Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

ददर्श देवकीसूनुं भवने रत्नमण्डिते / वरासनस्थं गोविन्दं देवदेवान्तिके हरिम्

Transliteration

dadarśa devakīsūnuṃ bhavane ratnamaṇḍite / varāsanasthaṃ govindaṃ devadevāntike harim

Translation

Nasdan niya ang anak ni Devakī—si Govinda, si Hari—na nakaupo sa maringal na trono sa loob ng palasyong pinalamutian ng mga hiyas, sa harap ng mga diyos at ng Diyos ng mga diyos.

Word by Word

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• देवकीसूनुम्: Devakī’s son
• देवकीसूनुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative: ‘Devakī’s son’), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भवने: in the palace/house
• भवने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• रत्नमण्डिते: adorned with jewels
• रत्नमण्डिते: अधिकरण-विशेषण (Qualifier of location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न + मण्डित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; मण्ड् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (instrumental/means sense: ‘adorned with jewels’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (qualifies भवने)

• वरासनस्थम्: seated on an excellent throne
• वरासनस्थम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर + आसन + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (locative relation: ‘standing/sitting on a splendid seat’), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (qualifies देवकीसूनुम्/गोविन्दम्)

• गोविन्दम्: Govinda
• गोविन्दम्: कर्म (Karma; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (apposition to देवकीसूनुम्)

• देवदेवान्तिके: near the god of gods
• देवदेवान्तिके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: ‘of the god of gods’ + ‘near’), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘near the Lord of gods’

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: कर्म (Karma; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (apposition to गोविन्दम्)

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (traditionally Sūta) describing a vision/encounter within the narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devakī
• Govinda
• Hari
• Devas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Hari (Devakī’s son, Govinda) enthroned and revered even among the gods, the verse points to a single supreme reality manifesting in a personal form—suggesting the transcendent Atman/Iśvara as worthy of direct darśana and devotion.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not prescribing a technique explicitly, the verse emphasizes darśana (contemplative vision) of the Lord’s form—supporting bhakti as a stabilizing focus for meditation, which in the Kūrma Purāṇa harmonizes with disciplined yoga and dharma.

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

Calling Hari present “among the gods and the God of gods” reflects Purāṇic inclusivism: the supreme is honored beyond sectarian limits, aligning with the Kūrma Purāṇa’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where ultimate divinity is approached through complementary names and forms.