Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

ततो मायामयीं सृष्ट्वा कृशां गां सर्व एव ते / समीपं प्रापयामासुगौतमस्य महात्मनः

Transliteration

tato māyāmayīṃ sṛṣṭvā kṛśāṃ gāṃ sarva eva te / samīpaṃ prāpayāmāsugautamasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

随后，他们众人以幻力（māyā）化现出一头虚幻而瘦弱的母牛，并使其被牵到大心的圣者乔达摩近前。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya) = ‘then’

• माया-मयीम्: illusory
• माया-मयीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyā + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘मायया मयी’ = made of illusion/illusory

• सृष्ट्वा: having created
• सृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having created’; धातु: सृज्

• कृशाम्: thin, emaciated
• कृशाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गाम्: cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• समीपम्: near
• समीपम्: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् (accusative used adverbially) = ‘near/into proximity’

• प्रापयामासुः: caused to reach/brought
• प्रापयामासुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āpaya (धातु-णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: आप् (to obtain) → आपयति (causative ‘to cause to reach’), उपसर्ग: प्र

• गौतमस्य: of Gautama
• गौतमस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gautama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• महात्मनः: great-souled
• महात्मनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘महान् आत्मा यस्य’ (as epithet)

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/Sūta-style narration) describing the actions of the assembled gods/agents in the Gautama episode

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Gautama

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it contrasts the stability of a realized mahātmā with māyā-made appearances: the Atman is not altered by illusory projections, while worldly perception can be manipulated by māyā.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit technique is taught in this verse, but it frames a classic yogic theme: discernment (viveka) against māyā and steadiness of mind when confronted by engineered provocations—foundational to śama, dama, and dhyāna in Purāṇic yoga ethics.

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

The verse itself is narrative and does not name Shiva or Vishnu, but it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-dual Purāṇic method: divine agencies operate through māyā within one dharmic order, where tests refine the seeker toward the same Supreme Reality honored in both Shaiva and Vaishnava frames.