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Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 137

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

दृष्ट्वा पराहतं सैन्यमन्धको ऽपि महासुरः / पराङ्मुखोरणात् तस्मात् पलायत महाजवः

dṛṣṭvā parāhataṃ sainyamandhako 'pi mahāsuraḥ / parāṅmukhoraṇāt tasmāt palāyata mahājavaḥ

اپنی فوج کو بالکل پِسّا ہوا دیکھ کر مہااسُر اندھک بھی اس رَن سے منہ موڑ کر نہایت تیزی سے بھاگ نکلا۔

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
Sambandha (पूर्वक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootdṛś (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having seen’
पराहतम्defeated/struck down
पराहतम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootparāhata (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सैन्यम्’)
सैन्यम्the army
सैन्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsainya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन
अन्धकःAndhaka
अन्धकः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootandhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचन
अपिalso/even
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (particle: ‘also/even’)
महासुरःthe great demon
महासुरः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘महान् असुरः’)
पराङ्मुखःturned away; facing away
पराङ्मुखः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootparāṅmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying Andhaka)
रणात्from the battle
रणात्:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (अपादान) एकवचन
तस्मात्therefore/from that
तस्मात्:
Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक; पञ्चमी एकवचन; ‘from that/therefore’
पलायतfled
पलायत:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpalāy (धातु)
Formलङ् (imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
महाजवःvery swift
महाजवः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + java (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘महान् जवः’ = very swift) विशेषणम्

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic battle episode to the sages (frame narration)

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

A
Andhaka
A
Asuras

FAQs

This verse is primarily narrative (a battlefield reversal) rather than a direct Atman-teaching; indirectly, it underscores the Purāṇic ethic that ego-driven power (āsurī-bhāva) collapses when dharma prevails—preparing the ground for later, explicit spiritual instruction.

No specific yogic technique is taught in this line; it functions as itihāsa-style narrative. In Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such episodes contrast restless, fear-driven flight with the steadiness (sthiti) cultivated by dhyāna and disciplined conduct.

The verse itself does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu; it belongs to the Purva-bhaga’s narrative layer. Within the Kurma Purana’s overall non-sectarian framing, these victories are typically read as dharma upheld through the unified auspice of the divine, later articulated more explicitly in its synthesizing teachings.