Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava

Devanagari script

प्रीतश्च भगवानीशस्त्रिशूली नीललोहितः / प्रददौ शत्रुनाशार्थं जनकायाद्भुतं धनुः

Transliteration

prītaśca bhagavānīśastriśūlī nīlalohitaḥ / pradadau śatrunāśārthaṃ janakāyādbhutaṃ dhanuḥ

Translation

Dengan berkenan, Bhagavān Īśa—Rudra berwarna biru dan merah, pemegang trisula—mengurniakan kepada Raja Janaka sebuah busur yang menakjubkan, demi memusnahkan musuh.

Word by Word

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्री (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईशः: the Lord (Īśa)
• ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (in apposition to भगवान्)

• त्रिशूली: trident-bearer
• त्रिशूली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्रिशूलं अस्य अस्ति = bearer of the trident)

• नीललोहितः: blue-and-red (hued)
• नीललोहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (नीलश्च लोहितश्च = blue and red-hued)

• प्रददौ: gave
• प्रददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शत्रुनाशार्थम्: for destroying enemies
• शत्रुनाशार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु + नाश + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose) — ‘for the purpose of enemy-destruction’

• जनकाय: to Janaka
• जनकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (recipient)

• अद्भुतम्: marvellous
• अद्भुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of धनुः)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator recounting Śiva’s boon to Janaka)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Isha (Shiva/Rudra)
• Nilalohita
• Trishuli (Trident-bearing Shiva)
• Janaka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Īśa as “Bhagavān” who freely grants protection and power, the verse points to the Supreme as an intelligent, gracious Lord who governs outcomes—suggesting the Atman’s highest reality is aligned with divine sovereignty rather than mere material force.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this line; instead it emphasizes bhakti-oriented alignment—pleasing the Lord (īśa-prasāda) as the foundation for success. In the Kurma Purana’s broader arc, such devotion and purity support later yogic disciplines (including Pāśupata-oriented restraint and concentration).

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

Though this verse centers on Śiva (Īśa/Rudra) as the giver of grace, the Kurma Purana’s overarching theology treats divine powers as harmonized—Śaiva devotion and Vaiṣṇava narration coexisting, reinforcing a non-sectarian, integrative Purāṇic vision.