Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Durjaya, Urvaśī, and the Expiation at Vārāṇasī

Genealogy and Sin-Removal through Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

जगाम स्वपुरीं शुभ्रां पालयामास मेदिनीम् / याजयामास तं कण्वो याचितो घृणया मुनिः

Transliteration

jagāma svapurīṃ śubhrāṃ pālayāmāsa medinīm / yājayāmāsa taṃ kaṇvo yācito ghṛṇayā muniḥ

Translation

他回到自己光辉的都城，治理大地。随后，迦ṇ婆牟尼因慈悲而应其恳请，作为祭司为他主持诸般祭祀仪轨。

Word by Word

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• sva-purīm: to his own city
• sva-purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘one’s own city’

• śubhrām: bright/auspicious
• śubhrām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with purīm

• pālayāmāsa: ruled/protected
• pālayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pāl (धातु)
• Form: Causative stem (णिच्) in Perfect periphrastic (लिट्-परस्मैपद), 3rd Person, Singular; ‘caused to be protected/ruled’ → ‘ruled’

• medinīm: the earth
• medinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yājayāmāsa: made (him) perform sacrifices
• yājayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) periphrastic Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; ‘caused (him) to perform sacrifice’

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kaṇvaḥ: Kaṇva
• kaṇvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yācitaḥ: having been requested
• yācitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yācita (प्रातिपदिक; √yāc, past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; PPP ‘requested/entreated’

• ghṛṇayā: by compassion
• ghṛṇayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; cause/instrument ‘out of compassion’

• muniḥ: sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to kaṇvaḥ

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the episode within the Purva-bhaga narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kanva
• the King (unnamed in this verse)
• svapurī (royal capital)
• medinī (earth)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Directly, it does not define Ātman; it emphasizes dharmic order—righteous governance and Vedic sacrifice—through which inner purity and spiritual fitness for higher knowledge (including Ātma-jñāna taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana) are cultivated.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga technique is taught in this verse; instead it highlights karma-yoga in the Purāṇic sense—duty (ruling/protecting) and yajña performed under a qualified sage—seen as a purifying discipline aligned with varṇāśrama-dharma.

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

It does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis indirectly by portraying Vedic duty and compassionate priestly guidance as shared foundations for later Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava teachings in the text.