Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Genealogies of Kaśyapa and Pulastya; Rise of Brahmavādin Lines and Rākṣasa Branches

Devanagari script

तस्य वै तपतो ऽत्यर्थं प्रादुर्भूतौ सुताविमौ / वत्सरश्चासितश्चैव तावुभौ ब्रह्मवादिनौ

Transliteration

tasya vai tapato 'tyarthaṃ prādurbhūtau sutāvimau / vatsaraścāsitaścaiva tāvubhau brahmavādinau

Translation

当他以极其严峻的苦行修持时，有两位儿子向他显现——筏蹉罗（Vatsara）与阿悉多（Asita）；二人皆为宣说梵（Brahman）者，专志于至上的神圣智识。

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• tapataḥ: of (him) performing austerity
• tapataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; used with ‘tasya’ = ‘of him who is performing austerity’ (genitive absolute-like)

• atyartham: exceedingly
• atyartham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atyartha (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• prādurbhūtau: appeared
• prādurbhūtau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prādur + √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Kridanta past participle (भूतकृदन्त/क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; ‘having appeared’

• sutau: two sons
• sutau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual

• imau: these two
• imau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; demonstrative adjective qualifying ‘sutau’

• vatsaraḥ: Vatsara
• vatsaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• asitaḥ: Asita
• asitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; pronoun

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; adjective qualifying ‘tau’

• brahma-vādinau: speakers of Brahman/expounders of sacred knowledge
• brahma-vādinau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; तत्पुरुष-समास; adjective qualifying ‘tau ubhau’

Speaker

Suta (narrator) speaking to the sages at Naimisharanya

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vatsara
• Asita
• Brahman

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the sons “brahmavādinau,” the verse emphasizes Brahman-realization as the highest aim: true lineage is measured by insight into Brahman rather than merely by birth.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds intense tapas (austerity) as a yogic discipline—self-restraint and concentrated practice that ripens into spiritual power and the rise of Brahman-oriented wisdom.

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

This specific verse does not directly mention Shiva or Vishnu; it supports the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis indirectly by valuing Brahman-knowledge (brahmavāda), the shared metaphysical ground honored in both Shaiva and Vaishnava teachings.