Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Bāṇa’s Śiva-bhakti and the Genealogy of Kaśyapa’s Descendants

Manvantara Lineages

Devanagari script

सो ऽतीव शङ्करे भक्तो राजा राज्यमपालयत् / त्रैलोक्यं वशमानीय बाधयामास वासवम्

Transliteration

so 'tīva śaṅkare bhakto rājā rājyamapālayat / trailokyaṃ vaśamānīya bādhayāmāsa vāsavam

Translation

Ang haring iyon ay lubhang deboto ni Śaṅkara (Śiva) at namahala sa kanyang kaharian. Nang mapasailalim niya ang tatlong daigdig, patuloy niyang ginambala si Vāsava (Indra).

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• atīva: exceedingly
• atīva: Prakāra (प्रकार/degree adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atīva (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय), intensifier

• śaṅkare: in/unto Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śaṅkare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location; object of devotion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaktaḥ: devoted
• bhaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• apālayat: ruled, protected
• apālayat: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pāl (पाल् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); with preverb apa- (अप)

• trailokyam: the three worlds
• trailokyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); Dvigu: ‘three worlds’

• vaśam: into subjection
• vaśam: Karma (कर्म/Object; goal state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• ānīya: having brought
• ānīya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nī (नी धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having brought’ with prefix ā- (आ)

• bādhayāmāsa: harassed, afflicted
• bādhayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bādh (बाध् धातु)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्/परस्मैपद, आम्-प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative sense in usage ‘tormented’

• vāsavam: Vāsava (Indra)
• vāsavam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the episode to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)
• Vasava (Indra)
• Trailokya (three worlds)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it contrasts worldly sovereignty (even over the three worlds) with spiritual devotion to Śaṅkara, implying that power over realms is not the same as ultimate self-realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named in this verse; it foregrounds bhakti (devotional orientation) as the king’s defining spiritual posture, which later texts in the Kurma Purana link with disciplined conduct and yogic restraint.

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

By presenting Śiva-bhakti within the Kurma Purana’s broader Vaiṣṇava frame, it supports the Purana’s synthesis: devotion to Śiva is honored within a narrative ultimately guided toward integrated dharma and higher realization.