Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time

Devanagari script

तं बोधयामास सुतं जगन्मायो महामुनिः / नारायणो महायोगी योगिचित्तानुरञ्जनः

Transliteration

taṃ bodhayāmāsa sutaṃ jaganmāyo mahāmuniḥ / nārāyaṇo mahāyogī yogicittānurañjanaḥ

Translation

Bấy giờ Nārāyaṇa—bậc Đại Thánh, Mahāyogin, quyền năng kỳ diệu của Māyā vũ trụ—đã đánh thức và chỉ dạy người con của mình, làm hoan hỷ tâm trí các hành giả du-già.

Word by Word

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

• bodhayāmāsa: awakened/instructed
• bodhayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु) + ṇic (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Causative (णिजन्त), Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular; parasmaipada

• sutam: the son
• sutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; in apposition to tam

• jagan-māyaḥ: he whose māyā is the world
• jagan-māyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: yasya māyā jagat (whose māyā is the world / who is the world-illusionist)

• mahā-muniḥ: the great sage
• mahā-muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: mahān muniḥ

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to jagan-māyaḥ/mahā-muniḥ

• mahā-yogī: the great yogin
• mahā-yogī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: mahān yogī

• yogi-citta-anurañjanaḥ: delighter of yogins' minds
• yogi-citta-anurañjanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदिक) + anurañjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: yogināṃ cittānām anurañjanaḥ (one who delights the minds of yogins)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Nārāyaṇa’s instruction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Mahāyogin
• Māyā
• Yogins

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Nārāyaṇa as the Mahāyogin and the cosmic power (māyā) behind manifestation, implying a Supreme principle that both transcends and orchestrates the universe while guiding seekers toward awakening.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic awakening through instruction (bodhana) and the calming/pleasing of the yogin’s mind—pointing to disciplined meditation, mind-stilling, and guru-guided realization central to Yoga-śāstra.

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

By portraying Nārāyaṇa as the supreme Mahāyogin revered by yogins, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where yogic lordship and salvific instruction are shared theological ground across Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva frameworks.