Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

संहिता ऋग्यजुः साम्नां संहन्यन्ते श्रुतर्षिभिः / सामान्याद् वैकृताच्चैवदृष्टिभेदैः क्वचित् क्वचित्

Transliteration

saṃhitā ṛgyajuḥ sāmnāṃ saṃhanyante śrutarṣibhiḥ / sāmānyād vaikṛtāccaivadṛṣṭibhedaiḥ kvacit kvacit

Translation

ரிக், யஜுஸ், சாமன் ஆகியவற்றின் ஸம்ஹிதைகள் ஸ்ருதி-ரிஷிகளால் தொகுக்கப்படுகின்றன; ஆனால் இடம் இடமாக பொதுவானதும் மாற்றமடைந்ததும் ஆகிய பார்வை வேறுபாடுகளால் அவை பலவகையாகப் பிரிகின்றன।

Word by Word

• संहिता: the saṃhitā (collection)
• संहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऋक्-यजुः-साम्नाम्: of the Ṛk, Yajus and Sāman (Vedas)
• ऋक्-यजुः-साम्नाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यजुः (प्रातिपदिक) + सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व समास (ऋक् च यजुः च साम च)

• संहन्यन्ते: are compiled/are arranged together
• संहन्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• श्रुत-ऋषिभिः: by the learned sages
• श्रुत-ऋषिभिः: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रुताः ऋषयः = ‘heard/learned sages’)

• सामान्यात्: from the common (reading)
• सामान्यात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• वैकृतात्: from the altered/variant (reading)
• वैकृतात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• दृष्टि-भेदैः: by differences of viewpoint
• दृष्टि-भेदैः: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दृष्टेः भेदाः)

• क्वचित्: in some cases/sometimes
• क्वचित्: Desha-kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/काल-अव्यय (adverb: ‘somewhere/sometimes’)

• क्वचित्: here and there
• क्वचित्: Desha-kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distributive sense)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing in a Purāṇic teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ṛgveda
• Yajurveda
• Sāmaveda
• Śruti
• Ṛṣi (Śrutarṣi)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes that differences in formulation arise from dṛṣṭi-bheda (standpoints) while the underlying Śruti-ground remains common—mirroring how one truth can be expressed through multiple valid recensions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is prescribed in this verse; it sets a scriptural foundation by affirming Śruti’s organized transmission, which later supports Yoga-shāstra disciplines grounded in Vedic authority.

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

Not explicitly; however, by validating multiple recensional expressions from a common Śruti-basis, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader synthetic method—allowing unified truth to be taught through different theological and yogic lenses.