Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Solar Rays, Planetary Nourishment, Dhruva-Bondage of the Grahas, and the Lunar Cycle

Devanagari script

संपूर्णमर्धमासेन तं सोमममृतात्मकम् / पिबन्ति देवता विप्रा यतस्ते ऽमृतभोजनाः

Transliteration

saṃpūrṇamardhamāsena taṃ somamamṛtātmakam / pibanti devatā viprā yataste 'mṛtabhojanāḥ

Translation

Trong vòng nửa tháng, hỡi các Bà-la-môn, chư thiên uống cạn Soma ấy, đấng có bản thể là cam lộ (amṛta). Vì thế, các thần và các hiền thánh Bà-la-môn được nói là được nuôi dưỡng bằng chính sự bất tử.

Word by Word

• saṃpūrṇam: full / complete
• saṃpūrṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃpūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies somam

• ardha-māsena: in/within half a month
• ardha-māsena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('half-month')

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• somam: the Moon
• somam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• amṛta-ātmakam: of nectar-nature / nectar-formed
• amṛta-ātmakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('having the nature of nectar')

• pibanti: drink
• pibanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• devatāḥ: the deities
• devatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• viprāḥ: O sages
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yataḥ: because / since
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; causal relative adverb/conjunction (हेतुवाचक)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun referring to devatāḥ

• amṛta-bhojanāḥ: nectar-eaters
• amṛta-bhojanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('whose food is nectar' / 'nectar-eating')

Speaker

Vyasa (narrative voice in Purana-style exposition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Devata
• Vipra
• Amrita

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Soma as “amṛtātmakam” (nectar-essenced), the verse uses a cosmic symbol for imperishable sustenance—hinting that true nourishment is the deathless principle, which Upanishadic and Purāṇic traditions associate with the Atman’s immortality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse is not a direct Yoga injunction; it supports a broader Kurma Purana theme: disciplined, sattvic nourishment and sacrificial purity sustain higher states. In Pashupata-oriented ethics, such purity undergirds restraint (saṃyama) and steadiness required for contemplation.

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

Indirectly: it frames “amṛta” as the shared divine sustenance of the higher orders. In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, such immortality is ultimately grounded in the one Supreme Lord revered through both Shaiva and Vaishnava lenses.