Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Svāyambhuva Lineage to Dakṣa; Pṛthu’s Devotion; Pāśupata Saṃnyāsa; Dakṣa–Satī Episode

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठवचनाद् देवी तपस्तप्त्वा सुदुश्चरम् / आराध्य पुरुषं विष्णुं शालग्रामे जनार्दनम्

Transliteration

vasiṣṭhavacanād devī tapastaptvā suduścaram / ārādhya puruṣaṃ viṣṇuṃ śālagrāme janārdanam

Translation

Theo lời dạy của Vasiṣṭha, Nữ Thần đã thực hành khổ hạnh vô cùng khó nhọc. Rồi tại Śālagrāma, Ngài thờ phụng Viṣṇu—Đấng Tối Thượng—như Janārdana, và làm đẹp lòng Ngài.

Word by Word

• vasiṣṭhavacanāt: from Vasiṣṭha’s instruction
• vasiṣṭhavacanāt: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); समास: वसिष्ठस्य वचनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• devī: the goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tapaḥ: austerity/penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• taptvā: having performed (austerity)
• taptvā: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव)

• suduścaram: very difficult (to perform)
• suduścaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + duścara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of tapaḥ; समास: सु + दुश्चर (कर्मधारय)

• ārādhya: having worshipped/propitiated
• ārādhya: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rādh (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव); with prefix ā-

• puruṣam: the Person
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇum: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to puruṣam

• śālagrāme: at Śālagrāma
• śālagrāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• janārdanam: Janārdana
• janārdanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); name of Viṣṇu; (traditionally jana + ardana, तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic episode to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Devī
• Viṣṇu
• Puruṣa
• Śālagrāma
• Janārdana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By naming Viṣṇu as “Puruṣa,” the verse points to the Supreme Person as the ultimate refuge—approached not merely as a deity of form, but as the highest principle worthy of tapas and worship.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds tapas (disciplined austerity) guided by a guru’s instruction (Vasiṣṭha), combined with ārādhanā (focused devotional worship). This aligns with Purāṇic sādhanā where self-restraint, vow-like discipline, and single-pointed devotion mature into inner steadiness.

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

While explicitly praising Viṣṇu as Puruṣa, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis frames such worship as compatible with Śaiva-Pāśupata discipline: the same supreme reality is approached through tapas and devotion, emphasizing unity over sectarian division.