Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Sūrya’s Celestial Car: Ādityas, Ṛṣis, Gandharvas, Apsarases, Nāgas, and the Two-Month Cosmic Cycle

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोपेतश्च विप्रेन्द्रा यज्ञोपेतस्तथैव च / राक्षसप्रवरा ह्येते प्रयान्ति पुरतः क्रमात्

Transliteration

brahmopetaśca viprendrā yajñopetastathaiva ca / rākṣasapravarā hyete prayānti purataḥ kramāt

Translation

โอ พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐ ผู้ที่ประกอบพรหมวรตะ (วินัยพระเวท) และผู้ที่ตั้งมั่นในยัญญวรตะ—เหล่ารากษสผู้เลิศเหล่านี้ดำเนินนำหน้าไปตามลำดับ ทีละตนๆ

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मोपेतः: endowed with Brahman (brahmic power)
• ब्रह्मोपेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + उपेत (प्रातिपदिक; √इ (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘उपेत’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणा उपेतः/ब्रह्म-उपेतः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• विप्रेन्द्राः: chiefs among Brahmins
• विप्रेन्द्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः)

• यज्ञोपेतः: endowed with sacrifice (yajña)
• यज्ञोपेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ + उपेत (प्रातिपदिक; √इ (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘उपेत’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (यज्ञेन/यज्ञ-उपेतः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/particle: likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/just)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• राक्षसप्रवराः: foremost among the Rākṣasas
• राक्षसप्रवराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (राक्षसानां प्रवराः)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रयान्ति: go forth/proceed
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पुरतः: in front/ahead
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: in front/ahead)

• क्रमात्: in order, successively
• क्रमात्: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘क्रमात्’ = ‘क्रमेण’ (by order)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse voice, traditionally Sūta/Vyāsa lineage) addressing sages/brāhmaṇas

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vipra (brāhmaṇa sages)
• Rākṣasas (elite attendants/protectors)
• Brahma-rites (brahma-vidyā / brahma-yajña)
• Yajña (sacrificial observance)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined Vedic and sacrificial life (brahma- and yajña-observance) as outer supports that purify conduct—preparing one for higher knowledge of the Self taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse highlights preparatory dharmic disciplines—brahma-yajña (study/recitation and Vedic restraint) and yajña (sacrificial duty). In Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such niyama-like observances support inner yoga by cultivating purity, order, and devotion.

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

Not explicitly; it reflects the Purana’s integrative approach where ritual order and dharma are upheld as common foundations for devotion and realization—harmonizing paths that elsewhere culminate in non-sectarian reverence for the Supreme (often expressed through both Śiva and Nārāyaṇa).