Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Incarnations of Mahādeva in Kali-yuga (Vaivasvata Manvantara) and the Nakulīśa Horizon

Devanagari script

लम्बोदरश्च लम्बश्च लाम्बाक्षो लम्बकेशकः / सर्वज्ञः समबुद्धिश्च साध्यः सत्यस्तथैव च

Transliteration

lambodaraśca lambaśca lāmbākṣo lambakeśakaḥ / sarvajñaḥ samabuddhiśca sādhyaḥ satyastathaiva ca

Translation

ସେ ଲମ୍ବୋଦର, ଲମ୍ବ, ଲାମ୍ବାକ୍ଷ ଓ ଲମ୍ବକେଶ; ସେ ସର୍ବଜ୍ଞ, ସମବୁଦ୍ଧି, ସାଧ୍ୟ (ପ୍ରାପ୍ୟ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ) ଏବଂ ସତ୍ୟ ସ୍ୱୟଂ।

Word by Word

• लम्बोदरः: Lambodara (name)
• लम्बोदरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (लम्बम् उदरम् यस्य = pot-bellied/pendulous-bellied)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• लम्बः: Lamba (name)
• लम्बः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• लाम्बाक्षः: Lāmbākṣa (long-eyed; name)
• लाम्बाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाम्ब + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (लाम्बे अक्षिणी यस्य = long-eyed)

• लम्बकेशकः: Lambakeśaka (long-haired; name)
• लम्बकेशकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब + केशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (लम्बाः केशाः यस्य = long-haired)

• सर्वज्ञः: Sarvajña (omniscient; name)
• सर्वज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वं जानाति = all-knowing)

• समबुद्धिः: Samabuddhi (even-minded; name)
• समबुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सम्यक्/समाना बुद्धिः यस्य = even-minded)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• साध्यः: Sādhya (name)
• साध्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्यः: Satya (name/true one)
• सत्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (in a stotra/sahasranāma sequence praising the Supreme Lord identified with Hari who is also revered through Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Supreme Lord (Hari/Īśvara)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By naming Him “Satya” (Truth) and “Sarvajña” (All-knowing), the verse presents the Supreme as the ultimate reality and conscious principle, not merely a deity with form but the ground of all being.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key yogic cue is “Samabuddhi” (equal-mindedness), a foundational discipline for meditation—cultivating impartial awareness and steadiness, which supports devotion and contemplative absorption in Īśvara.

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

Though expressed in a Hari-centered stotra, the qualities (Truth, omniscience, the attainable supreme goal) are those of Īśvara in general, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the one Supreme is praised through both Shaiva and Vaishnava lenses.