Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

सो ऽपि तेन विधानेन मदुक्तेन द्विजोत्तमः / आराधयामास परं भावपूतः समाहितः

Transliteration

so 'pi tena vidhānena maduktena dvijottamaḥ / ārādhayāmāsa paraṃ bhāvapūtaḥ samāhitaḥ

Translation

于是，那位最殊胜的两次生者依我所说的仪轨而行，以由虔敬（bhakti）净化之心，安住而摄持于禅定，礼敬供奉至上的主宰。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विधानेन: by the procedure/ordinance
• विधानेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मदुक्तेन: spoken by me
• मदुक्तेन: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद् + उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; उक्त = √वच् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): मद्-उक्त = 'spoken by me'

• द्विजोत्तमः: the best of the twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुष: द्विजानाम् उत्तमः (best among the twice-born)

• आराधयामास: worshipped/propitiated
• आराधयामास: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√राध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आ-उपसर्ग

• परम्: the Supreme (Lord)
• परम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (परम् = परमं देवम्/परं ब्रह्म)

• भावपूतः: purified by devotion
• भावपूतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव + पूत (प्रातिपदिक; पूत = √पू (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: भावेन पूतः (purified by devotion/inner feeling)

• समाहितः: collected, concentrated
• समाहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-√धा (धातु) + हित (क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) narrating an instruction-based episode to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Para (Supreme Lord)
• Dvijottama (exemplary Brahmin)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the object of worship “the Supreme” (param), the verse points to the highest reality as worthy of direct contemplation and reverent approach—realized through inner purification (bhāvapūtaḥ) and collected awareness (samāhitaḥ).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes disciplined sādhana: following an authorized vidhāna (prescribed method), cultivating bhāva-śuddhi (purity of intention/devotion), and maintaining samādhāna/samāhita-citta (a concentrated, steady mind)—a practical bridge between ritual worship and meditative yoga.

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

The verse models the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach: the “Supreme” is worshipped through devotion and yogic concentration, a shared theological ground where Shaiva (Pāśupata-style discipline) and Vaishnava (worship of the Supreme Lord) orientations converge in one sādhanā.