Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां त्वामृते पुरुषोत्तम / हन्तुमर्हसि सर्वेषां त्वं त्रातासि जगन्मय

Transliteration

avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tvāmṛte puruṣottama / hantumarhasi sarveṣāṃ tvaṃ trātāsi jaganmaya

Translation

Ôi Puruṣottama! Ngoài Ngài ra, trong muôn loài không ai thật sự có thể bị sát hại. Nhưng chính Ngài là Đấng xứng đáng trừng phạt kẻ ác vì lợi ích của tất cả; bởi Ngài thấm nhuần khắp vũ trụ, là Đấng Hộ Trì.

Word by Word

• avadhyaḥ: invulnerable; not to be slain
• avadhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vadhya (प्रातिपदिक; √vadh धातु + यत् प्रत्यय, नञ्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); viśeṣaṇa (adjective)

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings
• sarva-bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive, 6th), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• ṛte: except; without
• ṛte: Apādāna (अपादान/Exclusion-source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ṛte (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upapada (postposition) meaning ‘except/without’

• puruṣottama: O best of persons (Supreme Person)
• puruṣottama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• hantum: to slay
• hantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Tumunanta (Infinitive, तुमुन्), ‘to kill’

• arhasi: you are able/fit; you should
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

• sarveṣām: of all (of them)
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine) (collective), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive, 6th), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• trātā: protector; savior
• trātā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √trā धातु + तृच्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• asi: are
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

• jagan-maya: O one pervading/consisting of the world
• jagan-maya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana (Singular)

Speaker

A devotee/sage addressing Lord Hari (Puruṣottama) in praise

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama
• Jagatmāya (the universe-pervading Lord)
• Trātā (Protector)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as jaganmaya—immanent in all beings—yet uniquely sovereign, implying a single all-pervading Ishvara/Atman who sustains and protects the cosmos.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-pranidhana (devotional surrender): recognizing the Lord as the all-pervading protector and aligning one’s will with dharma—an attitude foundational to Purāṇic Yoga and Pāśupata-oriented devotion.

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

By emphasizing one jaganmaya Protector beyond sectarian limits, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where the supreme Ishvara may be praised as Vishnu (Puruṣottama) without denying Shaiva non-dual overtones.