Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाद्यैरियं धार्या धार्मिकैः शान्तमानसैः / तामहं वर्तयिष्यामि व्यासेन कथितां पुरा

Transliteration

brāhmaṇādyairiyaṃ dhāryā dhārmikaiḥ śāntamānasaiḥ / tāmahaṃ vartayiṣyāmi vyāsena kathitāṃ purā

Translation

Purāṇa suci ini hendaklah dipelihara oleh para brāhmaṇa dan golongan-golongan yang lain, oleh orang-orang berpegang pada dharma dengan hati yang tenteram. Ajaran yang dahulu telah diceritakan oleh Vyāsa itu akan aku bentangkan kini menurut tertibnya.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मण-आद्यैः: by Brahmins and others
• ब्राह्मण-आद्यैः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = ‘and others’ (समास: ब्राह्मणाः आदयः येषां ते)

• इयम्: this (teaching/story)
• इयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धार्या: should be upheld
• धार्या: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) → धार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, यत्/यतव्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; ‘to be upheld/maintained’ (gerundive)

• धार्मिकैः: by righteous (people)
• धार्मिकैः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (ब्राह्मणाद्यैः)

• शान्त-मानसैः: by calm-minded (people)
• शान्त-मानसैः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (ब्राह्मणाद्यैः); ‘whose mind is calm’

• ताम्: that (story/teaching)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वर्तयिष्यामि: I will expound
• वर्तयिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्/वर्त् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्काल/Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘to set forth/expound’

• व्यासेन: by Vyāsa
• व्यासेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कथिताम्: told/narrated
• कथिताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु) → कथित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त/PPP)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (ताम्)

• पुरा: formerly/long ago
• पुरा: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta (Sauti), addressing the sages in a recitation lineage attributed to Vyasa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Brahmanas
• Varna (social orders)
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly: it emphasizes śānta-manas (a tranquil mind) and dharma as the inner qualification for receiving Purāṇic wisdom—conditions that support discernment of the Self taught later in the Kurma Purana’s higher instructions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named, but the requirement of a peaceful mind (śānta-mānas) points to foundational yogic discipline—mental restraint, purity, and receptivity—preparatory to the Purana’s later yogic teachings (including Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā in its broader tradition).

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

This verse focuses on dharmic eligibility and transmission rather than deity-doctrine; by framing the text as a universal dharma-teaching for the righteous, it sets the stage for the Kurma Purana’s later integrative Shaiva–Vaishnava presentation without asserting sectarian exclusivity here.