Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा नारायणो वाक्यं ब्रह्मणो लोकतन्त्रिणः / सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं बभाषे मधुरं हरिः

Transliteration

śrutvā nārāyaṇo vākyaṃ brahmaṇo lokatantriṇaḥ / sāntvapūrvamidaṃ vākyaṃ babhāṣe madhuraṃ hariḥ

Translation

Nang marinig ang mga salita ni Brahmā—tagapangalaga ng kaayusan ng daigdig—si Nārāyaṇa, si Hari, ay nagsalita ng banayad at matamis na tugon upang umaaliw.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु) + ktvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: speech/statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• लोक-तन्त्रिणः: of the world-governor
• लोक-तन्त्रिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + tantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य तन्त्री/तन्त्रिन् = ruler/administrator of the world)

• सान्त्व-पूर्वम्: in a conciliatory manner
• सान्त्व-पूर्वम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāntva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘with conciliation first’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘spoke’

• मधुरम्: sweet
• मधुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘vākyaम्’

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing Narayana’s response to Brahma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Hari
• Brahma
• Lokatantra (cosmic order)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: Nārāyaṇa is portrayed as the compassionate, order-sustaining Supreme who responds with reassurance—hinting that the highest reality is not merely power, but conscious governance (dharma) and grace.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; it establishes the Purāṇic teaching style where spiritual instruction is framed through calm, sattvic speech—an ethical foundation supportive of Yoga (restraint, reassurance, steadiness of mind).

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

While Śiva is not named here, the verse models the Kurma Purana’s harmonizing tone: the Supreme (Hari/Nārāyaṇa) upholds cosmic order and consoles the creator, a narrative posture consistent with the text’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.