Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

कराभ्यां सुशुभाभ्यां च संस्पृश्य प्रणतार्तिहा / व्याजहरा स्वयं देवः सो ऽनुगृह्य पितामहम्

Transliteration

karābhyāṃ suśubhābhyāṃ ca saṃspṛśya praṇatārtihā / vyājaharā svayaṃ devaḥ so 'nugṛhya pitāmaham

Translation

随后，主宰亲自——除去礼拜者忧苦者——以其极其庄严美妙的双手触及（他）；并垂恩于毗多摩诃（梵天），说出消散其忧惧之语。

Word by Word

• karābhyām: with (his) two hands
• karābhyām: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• su-śubhābhyām: with very beautiful (hands)
• su-śubhābhyām: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with prefix su-; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); adjective qualifying karābhyām

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• saṃspṛśya: having touched
• saṃspṛśya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• praṇata-ārti-hā: destroyer of the distress of the bowed
• praṇata-ārti-hā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇata + ārti + han (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: praṇata-ārti (of the bowed/suppliant’s distress) + hā (agent noun from √han ‘to destroy’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of devaḥ

• vyāja-haraḥ: Hara in a manifest/assumed guise
• vyāja-haraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāja + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of devaḥ

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), reflexive adverb

• devaḥ: the god (Śiva)
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• anugṛhya: having favored/shown grace to
• anugṛhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• pitāmaham: Pitāmaha (Brahmā, the grandsire)
• pitāmaham: Karma (कर्म/Object of anugṛhya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the Lord’s act of grace toward Brahmā/Pitāmaha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the Lord)
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the Supreme as compassionate Īśvara who responds to śaraṇāgati (surrender): the Lord tangibly “touches” and relieves distress, showing the Atman/Īśvara not as indifferent abstraction but as conscious, gracious reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice implied is praṇāma and inner surrender—humble submission that dissolves fear and agitation. In Kurma Purana’s yogic ethic, such devotion supports steadiness of mind (citta-prasāda), making higher disciplines like dhyāna and īśvara-bhāvanā effective.

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

By presenting “the Lord” as the universal giver of anugraha (a hallmark of Śaiva theology) while remaining a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa voice, it reinforces the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same Supreme grants grace and removes suffering for the surrendered.