Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

किमर्थं पुण्डरीकाक्ष तपस्तप्तं त्वयाव्यय / त्वमेव दाता सर्वेषां कामानां कामिनामिह

Transliteration

kimarthaṃ puṇḍarīkākṣa tapastaptaṃ tvayāvyaya / tvameva dātā sarveṣāṃ kāmānāṃ kāmināmiha

Translation

噢莲眼者，噢不朽之主——你为何修行苦行？因为在此世间，唯有你是赐予一切求愿者诸愿的施主。

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative)

• अर्थम्: purpose; reason
• अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); किम् + अर्थम् = किमर्थम् (why/for what purpose)

• पुण्डरीकाक्ष: O lotus-eyed one
• पुण्डरीकाक्ष: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇḍarīka-akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: पुण्डरीक इव अक्षिणी यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मरूपेण (object of 'taptam')

• तप्तम्: performed; undergone
• तप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तपः इति विशेष्य (austerity performed)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• अव्यय: O imperishable one
• अव्यय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; नित्य/अविनाशी इति अर्थे (imperishable)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• एव: indeed; alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• दाता: giver
• दाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular); कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• कामानाम्: of desires
• कामानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• कामिनाम्: of those who desire; of lovers
• कामिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• इह: here
• इह: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb of place)

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant addressing Lord Vishnu (Puṇḍarīkākṣa), within the Purva-bhaga dialogue framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Puṇḍarīkākṣa (Vishnu)
• Avyaya (the Imperishable Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Lord as avyaya (imperishable) and the sole source of all results, implying a supreme, unconditioned reality from which worldly attainments and their fruits proceed.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity) is foregrounded, but the verse questions its purpose when directed at the Lord—pointing to the Kurma Purana’s emphasis that yogic discipline bears fruit through Ishvara’s grace rather than mere self-effort.

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

By stressing a single imperishable bestower of fruits, it aligns with the Purana’s synthesizing tendency: whether approached as Vishnu or in Shaiva frames (Ishvara), the one Lord is the ultimate giver of results.