Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 111

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

तस्माद् वै वेदबाह्यानां रक्षणार्थाय पापिनाम् / विमोहनाय शास्त्राणि करिष्यामो वृषध्वज

Transliteration

tasmād vai vedabāhyānāṃ rakṣaṇārthāya pāpinām / vimohanāya śāstrāṇi kariṣyāmo vṛṣadhvaja

Translation

ਇਸ ਲਈ ਵੇਦ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਖੜ੍ਹੇ ਪਾਪੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਲਈ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਦ-ਮਾਰਗ ਤੋਂ ਮੋਹਿਤ ਕਰਕੇ ਹਟਾਉਣ ਲਈ, ਹੇ ਵ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਧ੍ਵਜ (ਸ਼ਿਵ)! ਅਸੀਂ ਸ਼ਾਸਤਰ ਰਚਾਂਗੇ।

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-इति तद्धित/विभक्त्यन्त-प्रयोगः, अर्थे ‘अतः/तस्मात्’ (ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• वेद-बाह्यानाम्: of those outside the Veda
• वेद-बाह्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; ‘वेदस्य बाह्य’ इति; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (बाह्य-शब्दः विशेष्यापेक्षया), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural)

• रक्षण-अर्थाय: for the purpose of protection
• रक्षण-अर्थाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √रक्ष् (धातु)) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/उद्देश्य-प्रयोगः; ‘रक्षणस्य अर्थः’/‘रक्षणार्थम्’ इत्यर्थे; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन (singular)

• पापिनाम्: of sinners
• पापिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• विमोहनाय: for deluding
• विमोहनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमोहन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मुह् (धातु) + वि-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; उद्देश्य (for delusion)

• शास्त्राणि: treatises
• शास्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कर्मपद

• करिष्यामः: we shall make/compose
• करिष्यामः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वृषध्वज: O Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि; ‘वृषः ध्वजः यस्य सः’ (he whose banner is a bull); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified divine interlocutor addressing Shiva (vṛṣadhvaja) within the narrative frame of the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Vṛṣadhvaja)
• Veda

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it contrasts Veda-aligned dharma with delusive teachings meant to mislead; the implied aim is to steer beings back toward right knowledge that culminates in realization of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is taught in this verse; it sets a doctrinal context about śāstra and delusion, against which the Kurma Purana later frames disciplined paths such as Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā and Veda-grounded yoga.

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

By addressing Śiva respectfully as Vṛṣadhvaja within a shared divine counsel, it reflects the Purana’s integrative stance—Śiva and Viṣṇu function cooperatively in preserving cosmic order (dharma), even when discussing strategies involving moha.