Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

प्रह्लाद उवाच यो यज्ञैरिज्यते विष्णुर्यस्य सर्वमिदं जगत् / दधारासुरनाशार्थं माता तं त्रिदिवौकसाम्

Transliteration

prahlāda uvāca yo yajñairijyate viṣṇuryasya sarvamidaṃ jagat / dadhārāsuranāśārthaṃ mātā taṃ tridivaukasām

Translation

普罗诃罗陀说道：那位以祭祀（yajña）受敬拜、而此一宇宙尽归于他的毗湿奴——其圣母怀胎生他，为灭除阿修罗，并护持三天界之众，即诸天。

Word by Word

• prahlādaḥ: Prahlāda
• prahlādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahlāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun referring to viṣṇuḥ

• yajñaiḥ: by sacrifices
• yajñaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• ijyate: is worshipped
• ijyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ij (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada; passive sense 'is worshipped'

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; subject complement to yaḥ

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular; 'whose'

• sarvam: all/entire
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; qualifying jagat

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; demonstrative qualifying jagat

• jagat: world/universe
• jagat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• dadhāra: bore/held
• dadhāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; 'held/bore'

• asura-nāśa-artham: for the destruction of the Asuras
• asura-nāśa-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; purpose accusative; compound: (asurāṇām nāśaḥ) + (tasya arthaḥ) → 'for the purpose of destroying the Asuras'

• mātā: mother
• mātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; referring to viṣṇu/vāsudeva

• tridiva-okasām: of the heavenly dwellers (gods)
• tridiva-okasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tridiva (प्रातिपदिक) + okas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'tridive okāṃsi yeṣām' → 'of the dwellers of heaven (gods)'

Speaker

Prahlada

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada
• Vishnu
• Asuras
• Devas (Tridivaukas)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying Viṣṇu as the one “to whom this entire universe belongs,” the verse points to the Supreme as the all-encompassing ground of existence, approached through devotion and cosmic sovereignty rather than a merely sectarian deity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds yajña (sacrificial worship) as a disciplined spiritual act—karma offered in devotion—aligning with Purāṇic yoga where ritual, ethical duty, and God-remembrance function as integrated sādhana.

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

While explicitly praising Viṣṇu, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats such praise as compatible with the one Supreme Lord approached through different names and modes of worship, supporting a Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony rather than rivalry.