Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

ततो ऽवतीर्य विश्वात्मा देहमाविश्य चक्रिणः / अवाच वैष्णवीं निद्रामेकीभूयाथ विष्णुना

Transliteration

tato 'vatīrya viśvātmā dehamāviśya cakriṇaḥ / avāca vaiṣṇavīṃ nidrāmekībhūyātha viṣṇunā

Translation

ତେବେ ବିଶ୍ୱାତ୍ମା ଅବତରି ଚକ୍ରଧାରୀ ଭଗବାନଙ୍କ ଦେହରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କଲେ; ବିଷ୍ଣୁଙ୍କ ସହ ଏକୀଭୂତ ହୋଇ ବୈଷ୍ଣବୀ ନିଦ୍ରାଶକ୍ତିକୁ ସମ୍ବୋଧନ କରି ପ୍ରବର୍ତ୍ତିତ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अर्थः: तस्मात्/ततः (thereafter/from there)

• avatīrya: having descended
• avatīrya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√tṝ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातुः: अव+तॄ (to descend); अर्थः: अवतीर्य = having descended

• viśvātmā: the universal Self
• viśvātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: कर्मधारय (viśvaḥ ātmā yasya/viśva-ātmā)

• deham: body
• deham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• āviśya: having entered
• āviśya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातुः: आ+विश् (to enter); अर्थः: आविश्य = having entered

• cakriṇaḥ: of the discus-bearer (Viṣṇu)
• cakriṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• avāca: he spoke
• avāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद; अर्थः: he spoke/said

• vaiṣṇavīm: Vaiṣṇavī (pertaining to Viṣṇu)
• vaiṣṇavīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiṣṇavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• nidrām: sleep
• nidrām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ekībhūya: having become one/united
• ekībhūya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ekī√bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातुः: एकी+भू (to become one/unite); अर्थः: having become one (united)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-प्रकारः: निपात (particle), अर्थः: then/thereupon

• viṣṇunā: with/by Viṣṇu
• viṣṇunā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta/authorial voice) describing the divine action

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Viśvātmā (Universal Self)
• Viṣṇu
• Cakrin (Discus-bearer)
• Vaiṣṇavī Nidrā (Nidrā-śakti)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the agent “Viśvātmā,” the verse frames the Supreme as the universal indweller who can enter and operate through a divine form—suggesting a non-dual ground that pervades and animates manifestation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The mention of “Nidrā” as a Vaiṣṇava power can be read as yogic withdrawal (pratyāhāra) and controlled stillness—where consciousness ‘enters’ a chosen locus and unifies (ekībhāva), echoing Purāṇic yogic language of śakti-guided absorption.

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

Though explicitly Vaiṣṇava in imagery (cakrin, Vaiṣṇavī śakti), the metaphysical title “Viśvātmā” points to a shared Supreme principle beyond sectarian form—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.