Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

Dakṣa-yajña-bhaṅgaḥ — Dadhīci’s Teaching and the Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तस्मादनादिमध्यान्तं विज्ञाय परमेश्वरम् / कर्मणा मनसा वाचा समाराधय यत्नतः

Transliteration

tasmādanādimadhyāntaṃ vijñāya parameśvaram / karmaṇā manasā vācā samārādhaya yatnataḥ

Translation

是故，当了悟无始、无中、无终之至上主（帕拉梅湿瓦拉）后，应以身行、意念与言语，勤恳奉事礼敬于祂。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; तस्मात् = ‘therefore/from that’ (हेतौ/अपादाने)

• अनादि-मध्य-अन्तम्: beginningless, middle, and end (i.e., without beginning, middle, or end)
• अनादि-मध्य-अन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि + मध्य + अन्त (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (परमेश्वरम्); समासः—द्वन्द्व (अनादिः च मध्यं च अन्तश्च → अनादिमध्यान्तः; here accusative singular)

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावः (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having known/understood’

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः)

• कर्मणा: by action
• कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• समाराधय: worship/propitiate
• समाराधय: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + राध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• यत्नतः: with effort
• यत्नतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त/तद्धित-प्रयोगः), क्रियाविशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the inquirer (Indradyumna/sages) in dharma and devotion

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara (Supreme Lord/Ishvara)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Supreme Lord as transcending temporal limitation—without beginning, middle, or end—indicating an eternal, all-pervading reality to be realized and then worshipped.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes trikāraṇa-śuddhi (purity and alignment of action, mind, and speech), a foundational discipline supporting devotion and yogic steadiness in the Kurma Purana’s practical spirituality.

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

By focusing on Parameśvara as the singular Supreme worthy of worship, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where sectarian forms converge in one Ishvara.