Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

तस्य तद् वाक्यमाकर्ण्य सुप्रसन्ना सुमङ्गला / हसन्ती संस्मरन् विष्णुं प्रियं ब्राह्मणमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

tasya tad vākyamākarṇya suprasannā sumaṅgalā / hasantī saṃsmaran viṣṇuṃ priyaṃ brāhmaṇamabravīt

Translation

她听闻他的话语，那位具福德、至为吉祥的女神心生大悦，含笑而语；并忆念毗湿奴，对所亲爱的婆罗门开口说道。

Word by Word

• tasya: His
• tasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tat: That
• tat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vākyam: Speech/Words
• vākyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ākarṇya: Having heard/listened
• ākarṇya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-karṇ (धातु)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Gerund/ल्यप्)

• suprasannā: Very pleased
• suprasannā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suprasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sumaṅgalā: Auspicious/One with good fortune
• sumaṅgalā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sumaṅgalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hasantī: Smiling/Laughing
• hasantī: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: has (धातु)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular, Shatri Pratyaya (Pres. Participle)

• saṃsmaran: Remembering
• saṃsmaran: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular, Shatri Pratyaya (Pres. Participle)

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• priyam: Dear/Beloved
• priyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• brāhmaṇam: To the Brahmin
• brāhmaṇam: Gauṇa Karma (Secondary Object/गौणकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• abravīt: Spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Lang Lakara (Imperfect Past), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Sumaṅgalā (the auspicious lady) speaking to a brāhmaṇa (contextual interlocutor in the opening narrative)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by highlighting viṣṇu-smaraṇa (remembrance of Vishnu) as a stabilizing, auspicious inner orientation—suggesting the Supreme is approached through mindful recollection and devotion rather than mere argument.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Smaraṇa (contemplative remembrance) is implied as a core practice: maintaining a steady mental recollection of the Lord before speech and action—an accessible bhakti-aligned discipline that also supports yogic concentration (dhāraṇā).

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

This specific verse names Vishnu alone, yet it fits the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis by presenting devotion and auspicious conduct (maṅgala, serenity, right speech) as shared dharmic means toward the one Supreme.