Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

नवैते ब्रह्मणः पुत्रा ब्रह्माणो ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः / ब्रह्मवादिन एवैते मरीच्याद्यास्तु साधकाः

Transliteration

navaite brahmaṇaḥ putrā brahmāṇo brāhmaṇottamāḥ / brahmavādina evaite marīcyādyāstu sādhakāḥ

Translation

یہ نو برہما کے فرزند ہیں—برہمن کے عارف، برہمنوں میں برتر۔ یہ سب برہمن کے واعظ ہیں؛ مریچی وغیرہ کامل سادھک ہیں۔

Word by Word

• nava: Nine
• nava: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ete: These
• ete: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• brahmaṇaḥ: Of Brahma
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• putrāḥ: Sons
• putrāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• brahmāṇaḥ: Lords/Like Brahma
• brahmāṇaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• brāhmaṇottamāḥ: Best of Brahmins
• brāhmaṇottamāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural. (brāhmaṇeṣu uttamāḥ)

• brahmavādinaḥ: Expounders of the Veda/Brahman
• brahmavādinaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmavādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural. (Upapada Samaj)

• eva: Indeed
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• ete: These
• ete: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• marīcyādyāḥ: Beginning with Marichi
• marīcyādyāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: marīci + ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural. (marīciḥ ādiḥ yeṣāṃ te)

• tu: But/And
• tu: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• sādhakāḥ: Accomplishers/Seekers
• sādhakāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator, traditionally Sūta speaking in a sages’ assembly)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Marici

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling these sages “brahmavādins” and “brahmāṇaḥ,” the verse emphasizes realization and teaching of Brahman/Ātman as the highest truth, presenting spiritual authority as grounded in direct knowledge of Brahman rather than mere lineage.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse does not list techniques, but it frames the nine sages as “sādhakas,” implying disciplined sādhanā—Vedic study, tapas, and contemplative realization—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s broader emphasis on yogic restraint and devotion-oriented knowledge.

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

It does so indirectly: by centering “Brahman-teaching” (brahmavāda) and accomplished sādhanā, it aligns with the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where ultimate reality (Brahman/Iśvara) transcends sectarian labels, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava approaches through shared realization.