Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 88

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

नाम्नां सहस्रं कथितं पित्रा हिमवता स्वयम् / उपदेशो महादेव्या वरदानं तथैव च

Transliteration

nāmnāṃ sahasraṃ kathitaṃ pitrā himavatā svayam / upadeśo mahādevyā varadānaṃ tathaiva ca

Translation

ہِمَوان باپ نے خود ہزار نام بیان کیے؛ اور مہادیوی کی نصیحت (اُپدیش) اور اسی طرح ور دان (عطاے نعمت) کا ذکر بھی ہے۔

Word by Word

• nāmnām: of the names
• nāmnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sahasram: a thousand
• sahasram: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kathitam: was told/related
• kathitam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (कथ् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with sahasram

• pitrā: by the father
• pitrā: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• himavatā: by Himavat
• himavatā: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to pitrā

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• upadeśaḥ: instruction/teaching
• upadeśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upadeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahādevyāḥ: of Mahādevī
• mahādevyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādevī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• varadānam: granting of boons
• varadānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara-dāna (प्रातिपदिक; vara + dāna)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘boon’ + ‘giving’

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), particle (निपात) for emphasis

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic recitation context; typically Sūta relating the account within the Kurma Purana’s frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Himavat
• Mahadevi (Parvati)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes nāma (sacred names), upadeśa (initiatory instruction), and varadāna (grace). In the Kurma Purana’s devotional-yogic frame, realization is supported by revealed teaching and divine favor, not mere intellectual effort.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Japa and stotra-recitation are implied through the “thousand names,” supported by guru-like upadeśa from Mahādevī. This aligns with Purāṇic Pāśupata-leaning sādhanā where mantra, devotion (bhakti), and disciplined practice work together.

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

By centering Mahādevī’s upadeśa and boons within the Kurma Purana’s narrative world, it reflects the text’s integrative theology: Vaiṣṇava framing (Kurma Purana) comfortably transmits Śaiva/Śākta modes of worship and grace without sectarian conflict.