Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

संकल्पं चैव धर्मं च युगधर्मांश्च शाश्वतान् / स्थानाभिमानिनः सर्वान् यथा ते कथितं पुरा

Transliteration

saṃkalpaṃ caiva dharmaṃ ca yugadharmāṃśca śāśvatān / sthānābhimāninaḥ sarvān yathā te kathitaṃ purā

Translation

ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଯେପରି କହିଛି, ସଙ୍କଳ୍ପ, ଧର୍ମ, ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଯୁଗର ଶାଶ୍ୱତ ଯୁଗଧର୍ମ, ଏବଂ ନିଜ-ନିଜ ସ୍ଥାନର ଅଧିଷ୍ଠାତା (ସ୍ଥାନାଭିମାନୀ) ଦେବତାମାନଙ୍କ—ଏ ସବୁକୁ ମୁଁ ତୁମକୁ ବ୍ୟାଖ୍ୟା କରିଦେଇଛି।

Word by Word

• संकल्पम्: resolve/intention
• संकल्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• युगधर्मान्: duties of the ages
• युगधर्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युगधर्म (प्रातिपदिक); components: युग + धर्म
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: युगस्य धर्माः

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शाश्वतान्: eternal/perpetual
• शाश्वतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying युगधर्मान् (and/or following objects)

• स्थानाभिमानिनः: those who identify with their stations
• स्थानाभिमानिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थानाभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक); components: स्थान + अभिमानिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; उपपद/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्थाने अभिमानः येषाम्/स्थानस्य अभिमानिनः

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying (implicit) objects

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction): as/according to

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; here likely प्रथमा (they) with ellipsis of verb ‘are’ in relative clause sense

• कथितम्: said/told
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicative: ‘(as) was said’

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time): formerly

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) addressing sages (contextually aligned with the Kurma Purana’s instruction-dialogue style)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma
• Yuga-dharma
• Sthānābhimānins

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames reality as governed by a deliberate cosmic saṅkalpa and orderly dharma; the Self is approached through alignment with eternal principles rather than random contingency.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No single technique is named; the verse emphasizes dharma and yuga-appropriate conduct as the foundation for Yoga—ethical order (dharma) functioning as preparatory discipline for higher contemplation taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

By presenting a unified, Purāṇic governance of the cosmos—saṅkalpa, dharma, and presiding powers—this supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where divine administration is coherent across sectarian forms.