Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava

Devanagari script

विभ्रत् स नारीकवचं तस्माच्छतरथो ऽभवत् / तस्माद् बिलिबिलिः श्रीमान्वृद्धशर्माचतत्सुतः

Transliteration

vibhrat sa nārīkavacaṃ tasmācchataratho 'bhavat / tasmād bilibiliḥ śrīmānvṛddhaśarmācatatsutaḥ

Translation

Taglay ang nārī-kavaca, ang pananggalang na baluti ng kababaihan, mula sa kanya ay isinilang si Śataratha. Mula kay Śataratha ay lumitaw ang maringal na Bilibili; at si Vṛddhaśarman ay anak din niya.

Word by Word

• vibhrat: bearing/wearing
• vibhrat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + √bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; सर्वनाम

• nārī-kavacam: a woman’s armor
• nārī-kavacam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक) + kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘woman’s armor’/‘armor of a woman’); द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• tasmāt: from him/therefrom
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual); सर्वनाम

• śatarathaḥ: Śataratha
• śatarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śataratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• abhavat: was/became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tasmāt: from him/therefrom
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bilibiliḥ: Bilibili
• bilibiliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilibili (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• śrīmān: prosperous/glorious
• śrīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; गुणवाचक विशेषण

• vṛddhaśarmāt: from Vṛddhaśarman
• vṛddhaśarmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhaśarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• tat-sutaḥ: his son
• tat-sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘his son’); प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic lineage to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śataratha
• Bilibili
• Vṛddhaśarman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily genealogical rather than metaphysical; it supports the Purāṇic method of grounding dharma in historical continuity, while implying that embodied life and kingship unfold through ordered succession under cosmic law.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga practice is taught in this line; it belongs to the vaṃśa (dynastic) section of the Purva-bhāga. In the Kurma Purana, yoga instruction is concentrated more strongly in the Upari-bhāga (including themes associated with the Īśvara-gītā and Pāśupata-oriented discipline).

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

This specific verse does not directly address Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it functions as lineage narration. The broader Kurma Purana, however, frames dharma and sovereignty within a synthetic Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava Purāṇic worldview.