Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 126

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

इदं पुराणं परमं कौर्मं कूर्मस्वरूपिणा / उक्तं देवाधिदेवेन श्रद्धातव्यं द्विजातिभिः

Transliteration

idaṃ purāṇaṃ paramaṃ kaurmaṃ kūrmasvarūpiṇā / uktaṃ devādhidevena śraddhātavyaṃ dvijātibhiḥ

Translation

Ang kataas-taasang Purāṇa na ito, ang Kūrma Purāṇa, ay ipinahayag ng Panginoon na may anyong Pagong, ang Diyos na higit sa mga diyos; kaya dapat itong tanggapin ng mga dwija nang may banal na pananampalataya at paggalang.

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Nominative (प्रथमा) or Dvitīyā/Accusative (द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• purāṇam: Purāṇa (ancient text)
• purāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Nominative (प्रथमा) or Dvitīyā/Accusative (द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; superlative adjective

• kaurmam: of/pertaining to Kūrma
• kaurmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaurma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; relational adjective (कूर्मसम्बन्धि)

• kūrma-svarūpiṇā: by the one whose form is Kūrma
• kūrma-svarūpiṇā: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūrma (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā/Instrumental (तृतीया), Ekavacana; agent-instrument sense

• uktam: spoken/uttered
• uktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय); Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with purāṇam

• deva-adhi-devena: by the God over gods
• deva-adhi-devena: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + adhi (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound (देवानाम् अधिदेवः); Masculine, Tṛtīyā/Instrumental, Ekavacana

• śraddhātavyam: to be trusted / should be believed
• śraddhātavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śraddhā (श्रद्धा प्रातिपदिक) + √dhā (धा धातु) + tavya (तव्य)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (भाव्य/तव्यत्); Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; predicate of purāṇam

• dvijātibhiḥ: by the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• dvijātibhiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Tṛtīyā/Instrumental, Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) presenting the Purāṇa’s authority as the word of Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (Kūrma avatāra)
• Devādhideva
• Dvijāti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, by grounding the text’s authority in Devādhideva (the supreme Lord). The verse frames the Purāṇa as divine revelation, implying that its teachings about Self and liberation are to be approached as trustworthy guidance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is detailed in this verse; it establishes śraddhā (reverent trust) as the prerequisite attitude for receiving the Purāṇa’s later teachings, including Pāśupata-oriented Yoga and dharma-based discipline.

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

By using the title Devādhideva for the speaker in Kūrma form, the verse supports the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian tone where supreme divinity can be spoken of in shared, synthesizing language—later harmonized with Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frameworks.