Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

Naimiṣa-kṣetra-prādurbhāva and Jāpyeśvara-māhātmya — Nandī’s Birth, Japa, and Consecration

Devanagari script

संवर्तकानलप्रख्यः कुमारः प्रहसन्निव / रूपलावण्यसंपन्नस्तेजसा भासयन् दिशः

Transliteration

saṃvartakānalaprakhyaḥ kumāraḥ prahasanniva / rūpalāvaṇyasaṃpannastejasā bhāsayan diśaḥ

Translation

Vị Thiếu niên thần thánh ấy hiện ra như ngọn lửa hủy diệt vũ trụ, nhưng dường như đang mỉm cười hiền hòa; dung mạo và vẻ đẹp hoàn hảo, ánh quang minh của Ngài chiếu rạng khắp bốn phương.

Word by Word

• saṃvartaka-anala-prakhyaḥ: like the cosmic fire of dissolution
• saṃvartaka-anala-prakhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃvartaka (प्रातिपदिक) + anala (प्रातिपदिक) + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘prakhya’ = ‘like’; qualifying ‘kumāraḥ’

• kumāraḥ: the boy/youth
• kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• prahasan: smiling
• prahasan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: has (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘laughing/smiling’

• iva: as if, like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle of comparison (उपमा-वाचक)

• rūpa-lāvaṇya-saṃpannaḥ: endowed with beauty and charm
• rūpa-lāvaṇya-saṃpannaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + lāvaṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpanna (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘endowed with beauty and grace’ qualifying ‘kumāraḥ’

• tejasā: by (his) radiance
• tejasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• bhāsayan: illuminating
• bhāsayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhās (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘causing to shine/illuminating’

• diśaḥ: the directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the appearance of the Kumāra within the ongoing dialogue context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kumāra

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying a form that is simultaneously awe-inspiring (like dissolution-fire) and serene (as if smiling), the verse points to the Atman/Iśvara as both transcendent power and beneficent consciousness—radiance (tejas) that illuminates all directions, i.e., all states of experience.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds tejas as a sign of realized presence: in Yoga-shāstra terms, concentrated inner clarity (sattva-prakāśa) manifests as spiritual radiance. It supports meditative contemplation (dhyāna) on the luminous form of the Lord as a means to steady the mind and orient it toward liberation.

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

The image of dissolution-fire (often associated with Rudra/Śiva) joined with a gentle, auspicious smile (often linked with Viṣṇu’s grace) reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic vision: one Supreme manifests both fierce transformative power and compassionate protection.