Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 188

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

अन्धक उवाच नमामि मूर्ध्ना भगवन्तमेकं समाहिता यं विदुरीशतत्त्वम् / पुरातनं पुण्यमनन्तरूपं कालं कविं योगवियोगहेतुम्

Transliteration

andhaka uvāca namāmi mūrdhnā bhagavantamekaṃ samāhitā yaṃ vidurīśatattvam / purātanaṃ puṇyamanantarūpaṃ kālaṃ kaviṃ yogaviyogahetum

Translation

అంధకుడు పలికెను—మస్తకము వంచి నేను ఆ ఏక భగవంతుని నమస్కరిస్తున్నాను; సమాహితచిత్తులు ఆయనను ఈశ్వరతత్త్వముగా తెలుసుకొందురు. ఆయన పురాతనుడు, పుణ్యుడు, అనంతరూపుడు; కాలస్వరూపుడు, కవి-ఋషి, యోగంలో సంయోగ-వియోగాలకు కారణము.

Word by Word

• अन्धकः: Andhaka
• अन्धकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• नमामि: I bow
• नमामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular)

• मूर्ध्ना: with (my) head
• मूर्ध्ना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• भगवन्तम्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• एकम्: one/unique
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of भगवन्तम्

• समाहिताः: composed/meditative
• समाहिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); 'collected/absorbed' (refers to knowers)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म) (of विदुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• विदुः: know
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• ईश-तत्त्वम्: the Lord-principle (true nature of the Lord)
• ईश-तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'of the Lord' + 'principle'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); apposition to यम्

• पुरातनम्: ancient
• पुरातनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of (भगवन्तम्/कालम् etc.)

• पुण्यम्: holy/pure
• पुण्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण

• अनन्त-रूपम्: of infinite forms
• अनन्त-रूपम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'endless' + 'form'); पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• कालम्: Time
• कालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• कविम्: the seer/poet (sage)
• कविम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); उपाधि (epithet)

• योग-वियोग-हेतुम्: the cause of union and separation
• योग-वियोग-हेतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + वियोग (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (योग-वियोग) + तत्पुरुष (हेतु as head: cause of union and separation); पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Andhaka

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Andhaka
• Bhagavan (the One Īśvara)
• Kāla (Time)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a single supreme Īśvara-tattva known by the “samāhitāḥ” (those established in concentration), describing that One as ancient, pure, all-formed, and identical with Kāla (Time)—a metaphysical marker of the Lord as the underlying reality governing all change.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights samādhi-like steadiness (samāhita) as the means of knowing Īśvara-tattva, and frames the Lord as the “yoga-viyoga-hetu”—the principle behind both spiritual union (attainment) and separation (disentanglement), aligning with Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented emphasis on disciplined concentration and inner detachment.

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

By praising a single Bhagavān as the one Īśvara beyond sectarian limitation—ancient, infinite-formed, and the cosmic Kāla—the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-dual devotional stance where the supreme Lordhood can be expressed through both Shaiva and Vaishnava theological languages.