Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 30

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिं शार्ङ्गहस्तं श्रियावृतम् / न दृष्टस्तत्क्षणादेव नरस्तस्यैव तेजसा

Transliteration

śaṅkhacakragadāpāṇiṃ śārṅgahastaṃ śriyāvṛtam / na dṛṣṭastatkṣaṇādeva narastasyaiva tejasā

Translation

ਸ਼ੰਖ, ਚੱਕਰ ਅਤੇ ਗਦਾ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਕੇ, ਸ਼ਾਰੰਗ ਧਨੁਸ਼ ਹੱਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੈ ਕੇ, ਸ਼੍ਰੀ (ਲਕਸ਼ਮੀ) ਨਾਲ ਆਵ੍ਰਿਤ ਉਸ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨੂੰ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦੇਖ ਨਾ ਸਕਿਆ; ਉਸੇ ਪਲ ਉਹ ਕੇਵਲ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਤੇਜ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਅਭਿਭੂਤ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ।

Word by Word

• शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिम्: having conch, discus and mace in (his) hands
• शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख + चक्र + गदा + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose hands (hold) conch, discus, mace’

• शार्ङ्गहस्तम्: having the Śārṅga bow in hand
• शार्ङ्गहस्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शार्ङ्ग + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose hand holds Śārṅga (bow)’

• श्रिया: by/with Śrī (Lakṣmī), splendor
• श्रिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• आवृतम्: covered/surrounded
• आवृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle (कृदन्त); पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying devaṃ

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation particle (निषेध)

• दृष्टः: was seen
• दृष्टः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; passive sense ‘was seen’

• तत्क्षणात्: from that instant
• तत्क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative ‘from that moment’ (तत्पुरुष)

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

• नरः: man, person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive pronoun

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

• तेजसा: by (his) splendor
• तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the manifestation/vision of Lord Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• Śārṅga
• Śaṅkha
• Cakra
• Gadā

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Lord’s overwhelming tejas that defeats ordinary perception, the verse implies the Supreme is not an object grasped by the senses; realization requires inner fitness—purification, devotion, and yogic steadiness—rather than mere sight.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points indirectly to the need for adhikāra (spiritual preparedness): sense-restraint, concentration, and devotional contemplation (bhakti-yukta dhyāna). In Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such preparedness aligns with disciplined yoga and dharma that make divine vision bearable.

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

Though explicitly Vaiṣṇava in iconography (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-śārṅga with Śrī), the Kurma Purana’s synthesis reads this tejas as the one Īśvara-principle—honored as Vishnu here yet ultimately non-sectarian in essence, consistent with Shaiva-Vaishnava unity.