Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

कृत्वात्मयोगं विप्रेन्द्रा मार्कण्डेयेन चाच्युतः / कथाः पौराणिकीः पुण्याश्चक्रे पुत्रादिभिर्वृतः

Transliteration

kṛtvātmayogaṃ viprendrā mārkaṇḍeyena cācyutaḥ / kathāḥ paurāṇikīḥ puṇyāścakre putrādibhirvṛtaḥ

Translation

婆罗门中最胜者啊，阿周多（Acyuta）与摩尔甘底耶同立自性瑜伽（Ātma-yoga）之后，便在诸子与随从环侍之中，宣说清净殊胜的《往世书》圣传。

Word by Word

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• ātma-yogam: self-yoga/inner discipline
• ātma-yogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ātmanaḥ yogaḥ)

• vipra-indrāḥ: O best of brāhmaṇas
• vipra-indrāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (viprāṇām indraḥ)

• mārkaṇḍeyena: with/by Mārkaṇḍeya
• mārkaṇḍeyena: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• acyutaḥ: Acyuta (Vishnu)
• acyutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kathāḥ: stories
• kathāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• paurāṇikīḥ: purāṇic/traditional
• paurāṇikīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paurāṇika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying kathāḥ)

• puṇyāḥ: holy/meritorious
• puṇyāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying kathāḥ)

• cakre: did/recited (performed)
• cakre: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• putra-ādibhiḥ: with sons and others
• putra-ādibhiḥ: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (putraḥ ādiḥ yeṣām)

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing Acyuta’s discourse within the Kurma Purana narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)
• Markandeya
• Vipras (Brahmanas)
• Putras (sons/disciples)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By foregrounding ātma-yoga, the verse implies that sacred narration (purāṇic kathā) is grounded in inner realization—Self-union precedes and authorizes spiritual teaching.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It points to ātma-yoga—an inward discipline of integrating mind and Self—presented as the preparatory basis for transmitting Purāṇic wisdom in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented framework.

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

While naming Acyuta (a Viṣṇu epithet), the emphasis on yoga and purāṇic instruction aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the same supreme reality teaches through multiple theological idioms, supporting Shaiva–Vaishnava unity.