Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode

Devanagari script

तथास्त्वित्याह भगवान् प्रपन्नजनवत्सलः / दत्त्वा वरानप्रमेयस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

Transliteration

tathāstvityāha bhagavān prapannajanavatsalaḥ / dattvā varānaprameyastatraivāntaradhīyata

Translation

“如是成就。”慈爱护念归依者的世尊如是说道。赐下不可量的恩愿后，那无量者即于彼处隐没不现。

Word by Word

• तथा: so, thus
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus (saying)
• इति: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रपन्नजनवत्सलः: loving to those who take refuge
• प्रपन्नजनवत्सलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prapanna-jana + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्रपन्नजनस्य वत्सलः = affectionate to the surrendered people)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dā (धातु) + ktvā (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अर्थः—having given

• वरान्: boons
• वरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अप्रमेयः: immeasurable, unfathomable
• अप्रमेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + prameya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेध (unmeasurable)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (locative adverb)

• एव: indeed, right
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अन्तरधीयत: disappeared
• अन्तरधीयत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: antar-dhā (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the Lord’s response)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Prapanna-jana (surrendered devotees)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Lord “aprameya” (immeasurable), the verse points to the Supreme as beyond finite measure and conceptual grasp, yet personally responsive through grace to sincere surrender.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes prapatti (self-surrender) as a direct spiritual discipline: relinquishing egoic agency and relying on the Lord’s protection—often treated as a culmination of sādhanā alongside mantra, dhyāna, and dharma.

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

While Shiva is not named here, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis frames the Supreme as “Bhagavan” who is beyond measure and approachable through devotion—language compatible with both Shaiva (Īśvara) and Vaishnava (Nārāyaṇa/Kūrma) theologies.