Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Jambūdvīpa Varṣas, Bhārata as Karmabhūmi, and the Sacred Hydro-Topography of Dharma

Devanagari script

योगिभिश्च समाकीर्णं ध्यायद्भिः पुरुषं हरिम् / स्तुवद्भिः सततं मन्त्रैर्नमस्यद्भिश्च माधवम्

Transliteration

yogibhiśca samākīrṇaṃ dhyāyadbhiḥ puruṣaṃ harim / stuvadbhiḥ satataṃ mantrairnamasyadbhiśca mādhavam

Translation

Siksik ito ng mga yogin: ang ilan ay nagmumuni kay Hari, ang Kataas-taasang Purusha; ang ilan ay walang humpay na nagpupuri sa Kanya sa pamamagitan ng mga mantra; at ang ilan ay yumuyuk na sumasamba kay Mādhava.

Word by Word

• योगिभिः: by/with yogis
• योगिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• समाकीर्णम्: crowded, filled
• समाकीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + कृ (धातु) → समाकीर्ण (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘filled/crowded’; agrees with implied neuter noun

• ध्यायद्भिः: by those meditating
• ध्यायद्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) → ध्यायत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन; ‘by those meditating’

• पुरुषम्: the Person (Supreme Being)
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; apposition to पुरुषम्

• स्तुवद्भिः: by those praising
• स्तुवद्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तु (धातु) → स्तुवत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन; ‘by those praising’

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन

• नमस्यद्भिः: by those saluting
• नमस्यद्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नमस् + य (धातु) → नमस्यत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन; ‘by those bowing to’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• माधवम्: Mādhava (Viṣṇu)
• माधवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; object of praising/saluting

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the sacred scene/assembly)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Mādhava
• Puruṣa
• Yogins

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the worshipped deity “Puruṣa” and “Hari,” the verse points to the Supreme Person as the ultimate object of contemplation—approached through inward meditation, sacred sound, and reverent surrender rather than mere ritual alone.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Three integrated disciplines are shown: dhyāna (steady meditation on Hari as Puruṣa), mantra-stuti (continuous praise through sacred formulas), and namaskāra (humble prostration), presenting bhakti-yoga as a complete yogic method.

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

Though the names here are Vaiṣṇava (Hari, Mādhava), the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats supreme worship as one reality approached through yogic disciplines—supporting a non-sectarian, unity-oriented framework where devotion and yoga transcend exclusive identity-claims.