Shloka 3

Manvantaras, Indras, Saptarṣis, and the Seven Sustaining Manifestations; Vyāsa as Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

कियन्तो देवदेवस्य शिष्याः कलियुगेषु वै / एतत् सर्वं समासेन सूत वक्तुमिहार्हसि

Transliteration

kiyanto devadevasya śiṣyāḥ kaliyugeṣu vai / etat sarvaṃ samāsena sūta vaktumihārhasi

Translation

ในกาลียุคทั้งหลาย ศิษย์ของเทวเทพจะมีจำนวนเท่าใด? โอสุตะ ท่านควรกล่าวสิ่งทั้งหมดนี้แก่พวกเรา ณ ที่นี้โดยสรุป

Word by Word

• kiyantaḥ: how many
• kiyantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiyant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; interrogative adjective

• deva-devasya: of the God of gods
• deva-devasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (देवानां देवः)

• śiṣyāḥ: disciples
• śiṣyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• kali-yugeṣu: in the Kali ages
• kali-yugeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; कर्मधारयः (कलिः युगम्)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) emphasis/assurance

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying etat

• samāsena: briefly/in summary
• samāsena: Karaṇa (करण/instrument-manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial usage

• sūta: O Sūta
• sūta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• vaktum: to tell
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/complement of arhasi)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to speak/tell’

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (देशवाचक)

• arhasi: you are able/ought
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यम-पुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

Speaker

A group of sages (Ṛṣis) addressing Sūta

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Devadeva (Supreme Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it points to a single supreme Devadeva whose living tradition continues through disciples in Kali-yuga, implying the Supreme is knowable through transmitted teaching rather than mere speculation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is named in this verse; it sets up a doctrinal catalog—typical of Purāṇic teaching—where Sūta will summarize lineages and disciplines (often including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and yoga) suitable for Kali-yuga.

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

By using the inclusive epithet “Devadeva” (God of gods), the verse keeps the Supreme referent open in a way consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, where ultimate divinity is taught as one though named variously.