Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 7

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा वेदविद्वांसं कालमेघसमद्युतिम् / व्यासं कमलपत्राक्षं प्रणेमुर्द्विजपुङ्गवाः

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vedavidvāṃsaṃ kālameghasamadyutim / vyāsaṃ kamalapatrākṣaṃ praṇemurdvijapuṅgavāḥ

Translation

Thấy Vyāsa—bậc thông suốt Veda, rực sáng như mây mưa đen, mắt như cánh sen—những vị tối thượng trong hàng “nhị sinh” đã cúi mình đảnh lễ Ngài.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययार्थ), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having seen)

• वेदविद्वांसम्: knower of the Veda
• वेदविद्वांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + विद्वांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य विद्वान्)

• कालमेघसमद्युतिम्: having a luster like a dark cloud
• कालमेघसमद्युतिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालमेघ + सम + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (कालमेघेन समा द्युतिः यस्य) विशेषण

• व्यासम्: Vyāsa
• व्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कमलपत्राक्षम्: lotus-petal-eyed
• कमलपत्राक्षम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमलपत्र + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (कमलपत्रे इव अक्षिणी यस्य)

• प्रणेमुः: bowed down
• प्रणेमुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• द्विजपुङ्गवाः: foremost Brahmins
• द्विजपुङ्गवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजानां पुङ्गवाः)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta or Purāṇic narrator in the frame narrative)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Dvija (Brahmana sages)
• Vedas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it establishes the traditional means of approaching truth: reverence to the Veda-knower (Vyāsa) through whom teachings about Ātman and Īśvara are transmitted in the Purāṇic lineage.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; it highlights the prerequisite discipline of humility and guru-veneration (praṇāma), which Kurma Purana later treats as foundational for dharma and yogic instruction (including Pāśupata-oriented practice).

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

The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it frames Vyāsa as the authoritative transmitter of Purāṇic wisdom, within which the Kurma Purana later presents a harmonizing (non-sectarian) synthesis of Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava teachings.