Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

इन्द्रद्युम्नाय विप्रया ज्ञानं धर्मादिगोचरम् / शुश्रूषुश्चाप्ययं शक्रः सखा तव जगन्मय

Transliteration

indradyumnāya viprayā jñānaṃ dharmādigocaram / śuśrūṣuścāpyayaṃ śakraḥ sakhā tava jaganmaya

Translation

اے جگن مَیَ! اُس برہمن عورت نے اندرَدْیُمن کو دھرم وغیرہ کے دائرے تک پھیلا ہوا گیان عطا کیا؛ اور یہ شکر (اندَر) بھی خدمت کا خواہاں ہو کر تمہارا ساتھی بن گیا۔

Word by Word

• इन्द्रद्युम्नाय: to Indradyumna
• इन्द्रद्युम्नाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/दत्त), एकवचन; Dative singular (to Indradyumna)

• विप्रया: by the brāhmaṇī
• विप्रया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/through the brāhmaṇī)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular (knowledge)

• धर्मादिगोचरम्: having dharma etc. as its scope
• धर्मादिगोचरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + आदि + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying ज्ञानम्; ‘whose scope is dharma etc.’

• शुश्रूषुः: eager to serve
• शुश्रूषुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुश्रूषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; desiderous of service (from √श्रु with desiderative sense)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; particle ‘also/indeed’

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun ‘this’

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (Indra)

• सखा: (as) a friend
• सखा: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (friend)

• तव: your
• तव: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular ‘of you/your’

• जगन्मय: O universe-embodied one
• जगन्मय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular; ‘O one consisting of the universe’

Speaker

Narrator/primary interlocutor in the Indradyumna cycle (addressing the Supreme Lord as Jagannmaya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Indradyumna
• Śakra (Indra)
• viprā (brahmin woman)
• Jagannmaya (Supreme Lord/Vishnu-Kurma)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By addressing the Lord as “Jagannmaya,” the verse points to the Supreme as all-pervading—immanent in the universe—while remaining the object of true knowledge that comprehends dharma and the path toward liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śuśrūṣā (reverent service and disciplined attendance), a key preparatory virtue in Purāṇic yoga traditions: humility, receptivity to teaching, and sustained devotion that supports higher contemplative practice.

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

Though Vishnu/Kurma is addressed, the stress on dharma-grounded jñāna and devotional service reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach—where devotion and discipline harmonize across Shaiva and Vaishnava frames rather than competing.