Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Yuga-Dharma: The Four Ages, Decline of Dharma, and the Rise of Social Order

Devanagari script

ऋषिपुत्रैः पुनर्भेदाद् भिद्यन्ते दृष्टिविभ्रमैः / मन्त्रब्राह्मणविन्यासैः स्वरवर्णविपर्ययैः

Transliteration

ṛṣiputraiḥ punarbhedād bhidyante dṛṣṭivibhramaiḥ / mantrabrāhmaṇavinyāsaiḥ svaravarṇaviparyayaiḥ

Translation

ਫਿਰ ਰਿਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਪੁੱਤਰਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਹੋਰ-ਹੋਰ ਭੇਦ ਪੈਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਪਰੰਪਰਾਵਾਂ ਟੁੱਟ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ—ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟੀ-ਭ੍ਰਮ ਨਾਲ, ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਅਤੇ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ-ਭਾਗ ਦੀ ਬਣਤਰ ਬਦਲਣ ਨਾਲ, ਅਤੇ ਸੁਰ ਤੇ ਵਰਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਉਲਟ-ਫੇਰ ਨਾਲ।

Word by Word

• ऋषि-पुत्रैः: by the sages' sons
• ऋषि-पुत्रैः: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास (ऋषेः पुत्राः)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भेदात्: from division/difference
• भेदात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन

• भिद्यन्ते: are split/are divided
• भिद्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दृष्टि-विभ्रमैः: by confusions of perception
• दृष्टि-विभ्रमैः: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दृष्टेः विभ्रमाः)

• मन्त्र-ब्राह्मण-विन्यासैः: by the arrangement of mantras and brāhmaṇas
• मन्त्र-ब्राह्मण-विन्यासैः: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + विन्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मन्त्राणां ब्राह्मणानां च विन्यासाः)

• स्वर-वर्ण-विपर्ययैः: by inversions of accents and letters
• स्वर-वर्ण-विपर्ययैः: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वराणां वर्णानां च विपर्ययाः)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Purāṇic teaching on Veda-preservation within the sages’ discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rishis
• Rishiputras
• Mantra
• Brahmana
• Svara
• Varna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes that spiritual authority depends on precise śabda (revealed sound). When understanding and recitation are distorted, seekers may mistake the teaching; thus clarity in transmitted wisdom supports right knowledge that culminates in realization of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It points to śabda-sādhana as a discipline: careful Vedic study, correct chanting with svara, and orderly vinyāsa. In the Kurma Purana’s broader śaiva–vaiṣṇava synthesis, such purity of speech supports mantra-japa and contemplative steadiness required for Yoga.

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

Not by naming them, but by reinforcing a shared Purāṇic principle: both Śaiva (e.g., Pāśupata) and Vaiṣṇava paths rely on faithful transmission of mantra and meaning; unity is protected when sacred sound and doctrine are preserved without distortion.