Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

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

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

निशम्य वैष्णवं वाक्यं प्रणम्य पुरुषोत्तमम् / महापुरुषमव्यक्तं ययौ दैत्यमहापुरम्

Transliteration

niśamya vaiṣṇavaṃ vākyaṃ praṇamya puruṣottamam / mahāpuruṣamavyaktaṃ yayau daityamahāpuram

Translation

Nghe xong lời nhắn của Viṣṇu, vị ấy cúi lạy Puruṣottama—Đại Nhân, Đấng Vô Hiển—rồi lên đường đến đại thành của loài Daitya.

Word by Word

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√śam (शम् धातु; ‘to hear/notice’)
• Form: Ktvānta (Absolutive/Gerund, क्त्वा), ‘having heard/listened’

• vaiṣṇavam: of Viṣṇu; Vaiṣṇava
• vaiṣṇavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vākyam

• vākyam: speech; statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/Object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana

• praṇamya: having bowed (saluted)
• praṇamya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (Absolutive/Gerund, क्त्वा), ‘having bowed’

• puruṣottamam: the Supreme Person
• puruṣottamam: Karma (कर्म/Object of bowing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana

• mahā-puruṣam: the great person
• mahā-puruṣam: Karma (कर्म/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; apposition to puruṣottamam

• a-vyaktam: unmanifest; invisible
• a-vyaktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vyakta (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of mahāpuruṣam

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

• daitya-mahā-puram: the great city of the demons
• daitya-mahā-puram: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya + mahā + pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; goal of motion

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the action within the Purāṇic narrative

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama (Vishnu)
• Mahāpuruṣa
• Avyakta (Unmanifest)
• Daityas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Lord both “Puruṣottama/Mahāpuruṣa” and “Avyakta,” the verse presents the Supreme as personal (worthy of reverence) and also transcendent, beyond manifest forms—pointing to the ultimate reality that underlies all appearance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes a foundational discipline aligned with Purāṇic yoga: śravaṇa (receptive hearing of sacred teaching) followed by namaskāra (humble surrender). This devotional posture supports inner purification that later matures into steadier yogic practice in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching arc.

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

Though explicitly Vaiṣṇava in wording, the theology uses universal, metaphysical titles like “Avyakta,” a shared Upaniṣadic register that the Kurma Purana often employs to harmonize sectarian devotion with a non-dual, all-encompassing Supreme—supporting its Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis.