Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

अथ दीर्घेण कालेन तत्राप्रतिमपौरुषौ / महासुरौ समायातौ भ्रातरौ मधुकैटभौ

Transliteration

atha dīrgheṇa kālena tatrāpratimapauruṣau / mahāsurau samāyātau bhrātarau madhukaiṭabhau

Translation

随后，经过漫长岁月，那里来到两位勇力无比的大阿修罗——兄弟摩度（Madhu）与凯塔婆（Kaiṭabha）。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: वाक्यसूचक (Discourse marker/वाक्यसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/now)

• दीर्घेण: long
• दीर्घेण: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘कालेन’ विशेषण

• कालेन: with time / after a time
• कालेन: करण (Instrument/Time/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कालवाचक तृतीया (time-span)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अप्रतिम: unmatched
• अप्रतिम: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रतिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘पौरुषौ’ विशेषण

• पौरुषौ: (two) mighty ones (of prowess)
• पौरुषौ: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘महासुरौ’ के विशेषणरूपेण (men of prowess)

• महासुरौ: two great asuras
• महासुरौ: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—महान् असुरः

• समायातौ: arrived
• समायातौ: क्रिया/भाव (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-या (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Active/PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्—‘आगतौ’

• भ्रातरौ: two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘महासुरौ’ का अप्पोज़िशन

• मधु: Madhu
• मधु: सम्बन्ध (Apposition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन-समर्थ; द्वन्द्वाङ्ग

• कैटभौ: Madhu and Kaiṭabha
• कैटभौ: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैटभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व—मधु + कैटभ (two named demons)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic episode to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Madhu
• Kaiṭabha
• Asuras

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it sets a cosmic scene where powerful forces arise in time, implying that the Supreme Self remains the stable ground beyond changing events, while beings like Asuras appear and vanish within prakṛti and kāla (time).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit practice is taught in this verse; it functions as narrative setup. In the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such disruptions in cosmic order are resolved through īśvara-bhakti, disciplined yoga (including Pāśupata-oriented restraint), and alignment with dharma.

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

This verse is neutral on that doctrine, but within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis it frames the need for divine governance of the cosmos—where Śiva and Viṣṇu are presented as convergent forms of Īśvara who restore order when adharma and obstruction arise.