Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यासो विष्णुर्नारायणः स्वयम् / अपान्तरतमाः पूर्वं स्वेच्छया ह्यभवद्धरिः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇadvaipāyano vyāso viṣṇurnārāyaṇaḥ svayam / apāntaratamāḥ pūrvaṃ svecchayā hyabhavaddhariḥ

Translation

กฤษณะทไวปายนะ วยาส แท้จริงคือพระวิษณุ—นารายณ์เอง. กาลก่อนพระองค์เป็นอปานตรตมา; ด้วยพระประสงค์ของหริจึงทรงปรากฏเป็นรูปนี้.

Word by Word

• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Kṛṣṇa-Dvaipāyana
• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular; कर्मधारयः (appositional): 'Kṛṣṇa who is Dvaipāyana'

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निजवाचक-अव्यय (emphatic adverb): 'himself'

• अपान्तरतमाः: Apāntaratamā (a former incarnation/name)
• अपान्तरतमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपान्तरतमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (name)

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverbial accusative): 'formerly/before'

• स्वेच्छया: by his own will
• स्वेच्छया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'by (his) own will'

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतुवाचक; 'indeed/for'

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; 'became/was'

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

Speaker

A Purana narrator (Sūta/Pauraṇika voice) describing Vyāsa’s divine identity within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga narrative flow.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Krishna-Dvaipayana Vyasa
• Vishnu
• Narayana
• Hari
• Apantaratama

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying Vyāsa with Nārāyaṇa Himself, the verse implies a single supreme divine reality that can freely assume embodied roles for the protection and transmission of dharma—pointing to an underlying unity behind historical personalities.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; instead it establishes scriptural and guru-lineage authority by presenting Vyāsa as a deliberate manifestation of Hari—supporting the Kurma Purana’s broader Yoga-śāstra and Pāśupata-oriented teachings by grounding them in divine source.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purana’s integrative stance: the same supreme Lord (Hari/Nārāyaṇa) manifests as Vyāsa to reveal dharma, a framework within which the Kurma Purana harmonizes Vaiṣṇava devotion with Śaiva (including Pāśupata) spiritual discipline.