Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode

Devanagari script

कृष्णाजिनोपवीताङ्ग आषाढेन विराजितः / ब्राह्मणो जटिलो वेदानुद्गिरन् भस्ममण्डितः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇājinopavītāṅga āṣāḍhena virājitaḥ / brāhmaṇo jaṭilo vedānudgiran bhasmamaṇḍitaḥ

Translation

Một vị Bà-la-môn hiện ra trong quang huy của khổ hạnh: thân mang dây thiêng, khoác da linh dương đen, rạng ngời với cây gậy, tóc bện jata, điểm trang tro thánh, và không ngừng tụng xướng các Veda.

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-ajina-upavīta-aṅgaḥ: whose body bears a black antelope-skin and sacred thread
• kṛṣṇa-ajina-upavīta-aṅgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक) + upavīta (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (nominative/1st), Ekavacana (singular); samāsa: tatpuruṣa (determinative)

• āṣāḍhena: with (the month of) Āṣāḍha
• āṣāḍhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (singular)

• virājitaḥ: adorned, resplendent
• virājitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√rāj (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya past participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• brāhmaṇaḥ: a brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• jaṭilaḥ: matted-haired
• jaṭilaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vedān: the Vedas
• vedān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (plural)

• udgiran: uttering, reciting
• udgiran: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇya (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण) with brāhmaṇaḥ
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud√gṝ (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; parasmaipada sense

• bhasma-maṇḍitaḥ: adorned with ash
• bhasma-maṇḍitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasma (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; samāsa: tatpuruṣa (instrumental/means implied)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the appearance/marks of an ascetic Brāhmaṇa within the Indradyumna–Kurma Purana narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Vedas
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by portraying the ascetic as Veda-reciting and ash-adorned, the verse points to inward purification and disciplined remembrance of Brahman/Īśvara as the basis for realizing the Self beyond external identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights tapas-oriented discipline and sādhana markers associated with Shaiva-Pāśupata and Vedic asceticism—wearing the yajñopavīta, bearing a staff, applying bhasma, and sustained svādhyāya (Veda-recitation) as supports for concentration and renunciation.

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

Through shared ascetic symbolism (especially bhasma and tapas), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Vedic devotion and Shaiva ascetic signs are not opposed but converge as complementary paths oriented to the one Supreme Lord.