Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

मथ्यमाने तदा तस्मिन् कूर्मरूपी जनार्दनः / बभार मन्दरं देवो देवानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

mathyamāne tadā tasmin kūrmarūpī janārdanaḥ / babhāra mandaraṃ devo devānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

当搅乳海之事进行之时，主宰阇那尔达那化作库尔摩神龟之形，托举曼陀罗山；此乃出于护念诸天福祉之愿。

Word by Word

• मथ्यमाने: while (it) was being churned
• मथ्यमाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्थ् (धातु) → मथ्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, कर्मणि वर्तमान-काल-प्रत्यय)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन, नपुंसक/पुं-समन्वय (सप्तमी-सम्बन्धे); कर्मणि वर्तमानकाले ‘being churned’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in that (ocean/churning)’

• कूर्म-रूपी: having the form of a tortoise
• कूर्म-रूपी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (जनार्दनः)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बभार: bore/supported
• बभार: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मन्दरम्: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अपपद-सम्बोधन/उपपद-विशेष्य (जनार्दनः)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• हित-काम्यया: for (their) welfare
• हित-काम्यया: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक) + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (instrumental of motive): ‘with the desire for welfare’

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Sūta/compilers’ narrative voice describing Viṣṇu as Kūrma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Janardana (Vishnu)
• Kurma (Tortoise Incarnation)
• Mandara (Mount Mandara)
• Devas

More Details (5 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme (Janārdana) as both transcendent and immanent—able to assume a concrete form (Kūrma) and uphold the cosmic process, suggesting the Self as the sustaining ground of dharma and order.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; instead it emphasizes the yogic principle of dhāraṇa/support—steadiness and sustaining power—mirroring how spiritual practice stabilizes the mind so the “churning” of transformation can yield higher results.

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

While naming Viṣṇu as Kūrma, the verse aligns with the Purāṇa’s synthesis by presenting the Supreme as the universal benefactor who supports cosmic work for the devas—an attribute later resonant with Śaiva-Pāśupata ideals of īśvara as the upholder of the world.