Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

ततः क्रीडां महादेवः कृत्वा द्वादशवार्षिकीम् / हिताय लोके भक्तानामाजगामाथ मन्दरम्

Transliteration

tataḥ krīḍāṃ mahādevaḥ kṛtvā dvādaśavārṣikīm / hitāya loke bhaktānāmājagāmātha mandaram

Translation

پھر مہادیو نے بارہ برس کی دیویہ لیلا انجام دے کر، عالم کی بھلائی اور بھکتوں پر انُگرہ کے لیے، مَندَر پہاڑ پر تشریف لائے۔

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/कालवाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनन्तरार्थे (adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• क्रीडाम्: sport/play
• क्रीडाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘महान् देवः’)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Sambandha (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having done’

• द्वादश-वार्षिकीम्: lasting twelve years
• द्वादश-वार्षिकीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vārṣikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (‘द्वादश वर्षाणि यस्याः सा’ = twelve-year-long) विशेषणम् (क्रीडाम्)

• हिताय: for the welfare
• हिताय: Sampradana/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान) एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the benefit)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन

• भक्तानाम्: of the devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) बहुवचन

• आजगाम: came/arrived
• आजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/आरम्भार्थक (particle: ‘then/now’)

• मन्दरम्: to Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरम्: Karma/Gati (कर्म/गति-लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म/गति) एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic sūta-style narration within the chapter’s ongoing account)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Mandara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Mahādeva’s actions as “krīḍā” (divine play), the verse implies the Lord acts freely and compassionately for loka-hita, without worldly compulsion—an indicator of transcendence associated with the Supreme reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named, but the verse foregrounds bhakti (devotion) and divine grace (loka-hita for bhaktas), which in the Kurma Purana complements Pāśupata-oriented discipline by emphasizing surrender and the Lord’s compassionate intervention.

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

Even when focusing on Śiva as Mahādeva, the Kurma Purana’s broader theology frames such divine acts as universal welfare and protection of devotees—consistent with its Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where supreme divinity is honored through both forms without sectarian negation.