Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

अदृष्ट्वा तत्र गोविन्दं प्रणम्य शिरसा मुनिम् / आजगामोपमन्युं तं पुरीं द्वारवतीं पुनः

Transliteration

adṛṣṭvā tatra govindaṃ praṇamya śirasā munim / ājagāmopamanyuṃ taṃ purīṃ dvāravatīṃ punaḥ

Translation

เมื่อไม่พบโควินทะที่นั่น อุปมันยุได้ก้มศีรษะนอบน้อมแด่มุนี แล้วจึงกลับไปยังนครทวารวตีอีกครั้ง

Word by Word

• अदृष्ट्वा: not having seen
• अदृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial—पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (Gerund) नञ्-पूर्वक (negated): ‘not having seen’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa—location adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• गोविन्दम्: Govinda
• गोविन्दम्: कर्म (Karma/Object—of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial—पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (Gerund)

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; साधन (by the head)

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object—of bowing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• आजगाम: came
• आजगाम: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उपमन्युम्: Upamanyu
• उपमन्युम्: कर्म (Karma/Object—of coming to/approaching)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपमन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; (person name)

• तम्: that (one)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma—appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; उपमन्युम् इति विशेषणवत्/अन्वय (that)

• पुरीम्: to the city
• पुरीम्: कर्म (Karma—destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; गमन-लक्ष्य (destination)

• द्वारवतीम्: Dvāravatī
• द्वारवतीम्: कर्म (Karma—destination appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; पुरीम् इति समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (adverb)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Upamanyu
• Dvāravatī

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: the inability to “see” Govinda outwardly points to the Purāṇic teaching that the Supreme is not merely an object of ordinary sight, but realized through inner discipline, devotion, and grace.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds humility and reverence (praṇāma) as preparatory sādhana—an essential ethical-ritual foundation that supports deeper yogic pursuit (including the later Kurma Purana emphasis on Pāśupata-oriented discipline).

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

By centering devotion to Govinda while honoring a muni, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative tone: devotion to Viṣṇu is upheld alongside the authority of sages and the broader dhārmic framework that also accommodates Śaiva teachings elsewhere in the text.