Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Genealogies of Yadus and Vṛṣṇis; Navaratha’s Refuge to Sarasvatī; Rise of Sāttvata Tradition; Prelude to Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma Incarnation

Devanagari script

समुद्यम्य तदा शूलं प्रवेष्टुं बलदर्पितः / त्रिलोकमातुस्तत्स्थानं शशाङ्कादित्यसंन्निभम्

Transliteration

samudyamya tadā śūlaṃ praveṣṭuṃ baladarpitaḥ / trilokamātustatsthānaṃ śaśāṅkādityasaṃnnibham

Translation

అప్పుడు తన బలగర్వంతో మదించిన వాడు శూలాన్ని ఎత్తి, చంద్రసూర్యసమాన కాంతితో ప్రకాశించే త్రిలోకమాత ఆ ధామంలో బలవంతంగా ప్రవేశించుటకు యత్నించాడు।

Word by Word

• समुद्यम्य: having lifted up
• समुद्यम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having lifted/raised’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• शूलम्: a spear/trident
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• प्रवेष्टुम्: to enter, to pierce
• प्रवेष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to enter/penetrate’

• बलदर्पितः: proud of his strength
• बलदर्पितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + दर्पित (प्रातिपदिक; दर्पित from दर्प्/दृप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बलस्य दर्पितः) ‘proud due to strength’

• त्रिलोकमातुः: of the mother of the three worlds
• त्रिलोकमातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोक + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (मातृ-शब्द), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘mother of the three worlds’

• तत्-स्थानम्: that place/abode
• तत्-स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तस्य स्थानम्)

• शशाङ्क-आदित्य-संनिभम्: resembling the moon and the sun
• शशाङ्क-आदित्य-संनिभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशाङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संनिभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः ‘resembling moon and sun’

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/Śaunaka-style narrative voice)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Trilokamātā (Mother of the three worlds)
• Śūla (spear/trident weapon)
• Śaśāṅka (Moon)
• Āditya (Sun)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Goddess’s abode as sun-and-moon-like radiance, the verse points to divine reality as self-luminous (svayaṃ-prakāśa)—a hallmark of the Supreme that outshines worldly power and ego.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implicitly cautions against bala-darpa (ego born of power), aligning with Kurma Purana’s yogic ethic: humility, self-restraint, and purification of intention are prerequisites for approaching the divine ‘abode’ (inner realization).

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

Though not naming them directly, the imagery of śūla (often Shaiva) and the universal Mother’s radiance fits the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology, where sectarian symbols are harmonized under a single divine order (Īśvara-tattva).