Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Genealogies from Dakṣa’s Daughters: Ṛṣi Lines, Agni-Forms, Pitṛ Classes, and the Transition to Manu’s Progeny

Devanagari script

तेभ्यः स्वधा सुतां जज्ञे मेनां वैतरणीं तथा / ते उभे ब्रह्मवादिन्यौ योगिन्यौ मुनिसत्तमाः

Transliteration

tebhyaḥ svadhā sutāṃ jajñe menāṃ vaitaraṇīṃ tathā / te ubhe brahmavādinyau yoginyau munisattamāḥ

Translation

Deles, Svadhā gerou duas filhas—Menā e Vaitaraṇī. Ambas eram expositoras do Brahman (sabedoria sagrada), yoginīs realizadas e as mais eminentes entre os sábios.

Word by Word

• तेभ्यः: from them
• तेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्वधा: Svadhā (name)
• स्वधा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुताम्: a daughter
• सुताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• जज्ञे: gave birth / was born
• जज्ञे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मेनाम्: Menā (name)
• मेनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वैतरणीम्: Vaitaraṇī (name)
• वैतरणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैतरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), अव्यय-प्रकारः: समुच्चय/उपमानार्थक (also/likewise)

• ते: those two (fem.)
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• उभे: both
• उभे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• ब्रह्मवादिन्यौ: two expounders of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवादिन्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + वादिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ब्रह्मणः वादिनी (one who speaks of Brahman)

• योगिन्यौ: two yoginīs
• योगिन्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• मुनिसत्तमाः: best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: मुनयः एव सत्तमाः (best among sages)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) relating the Purāṇic genealogy in the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Svadhā
• Menā
• Vaitaraṇī
• Brahman (Vedic wisdom)
• Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the daughters “brahmavādinī,” the verse points to realization and teaching of brahman—knowledge that ultimately culminates in insight into the Self (ātman) as the highest truth.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights attainment rather than a specific technique: being “yoginī” implies disciplined yogic practice leading to steadiness of mind and spiritual authority, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-dharma orientation.

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

Indirectly: it frames spiritual excellence through brahman-knowledge and yoga, a shared ground in the Kurma Purana where Shaiva and Vaishnava paths converge in the pursuit of the same supreme reality.