Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Sūrya’s Celestial Car: Ādityas, Ṛṣis, Gandharvas, Apsarases, Nāgas, and the Two-Month Cosmic Cycle

Devanagari script

एतेषामेव देवानां यथावीर्यं यथातपः / यथायोगं यथासत्त्वं स एष तपति प्रभुः

Transliteration

eteṣāmeva devānāṃ yathāvīryaṃ yathātapaḥ / yathāyogaṃ yathāsattvaṃ sa eṣa tapati prabhuḥ

Translation

Tùy theo sức lực và khổ hạnh của chính các vị thần ấy—tùy theo kỷ luật và năng lực bẩm sinh của họ—Chính Đấng Chúa Tể này, bậc Chủ quyền, dùng tapas điều ngự của Ngài mà phân định và nâng đỡ họ.

Word by Word

• eteṣām: of these
• eteṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yathā-vīryam: according to (their) strength
• yathā-vīryam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverbial compound; indeclinable meaning 'according to power'

• yathā-tapaḥ: according to (their) austerity
• yathā-tapaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverbial compound; indeclinable meaning 'according to austerity'

• yathā-yogam: as appropriate
• yathā-yogam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverbial compound; indeclinable meaning 'as is fitting/appropriately'

• yathā-sattvam: according to (their) capacity
• yathā-sattvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverbial compound; indeclinable meaning 'according to capacity/nature'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); deictic apposition to 'saḥ'

• tapati: shines/heats
• tapati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• prabhuḥ: the Lord/master
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to subject

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) as the Supreme Ishvara teaching the sages/Indradyumna-context discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Prabhu (Ishvara)
• Tapas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Lord (Ishvara) as the regulating consciousness who measures out results according to each being’s capacity—implying a single sovereign principle behind the diverse powers of the devas.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yathāyoga—discipline according to proper measure and fitness—suggesting graded spiritual practice (tapas and yogic restraint) aligned with one’s adhikāra (inner capacity).

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

By centering one Prabhu who empowers all devas through tapas, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology where sectarian forms are subordinate to a single Ishvara principle (often harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava readings).