Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Yuga-Dharma: The Four Ages, Decline of Dharma, and the Rise of Social Order

Devanagari script

ततस्तेषु प्रनष्टेषु विभ्रान्ता मैथुनोद्भवाः / अभिध्यायन्ति तां सिद्धिं सत्याभिध्यायिनस्तदा

Transliteration

tatasteṣu pranaṣṭeṣu vibhrāntā maithunodbhavāḥ / abhidhyāyanti tāṃ siddhiṃ satyābhidhyāyinastadā

Translation

随后，当那些依托之物尽皆消失时，由男女交合而生的众生迷惘失措，开始观想那至高成就；于彼时，他们成为观照真理者。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• teṣu: in/among them
• teṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pranaṣṭeṣu: when (they were) lost/perished
• pranaṣṭeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√naś (धातु) + naṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; agrees with teṣu

• vibhrāntāḥ: confused, bewildered
• vibhrāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√bhram (धातु) + bhrānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past active/participial adjective (क्त/कृत), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• maithuna-udbhavāḥ: those born of sexual union
• maithuna-udbhavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithuna (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• abhidhyāyanti: they meditate upon, contemplate
• abhidhyāyanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dhyai (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tām: that (her/that)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• siddhim: attainment, success, siddhi
• siddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• satya-abhidhyāyinaḥ: those who meditate on truth
• satya-abhidhyāyinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + abhidhyāyin (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; abhidhyāyin = present participial agent-noun (णिनि/इन्-प्रत्यय); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• tadā: at that time
• tadā: Kala (काल/temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Narratorial voice within the Purāṇic discourse (contextually aligned with the Kurma Purana’s teaching stream)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Satya (Truth)
• Siddhi

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that when transient supports collapse, the seeker turns inward toward Satya—pointing to an enduring Reality beyond perishing objects, which aligns with the Purāṇic emphasis on the imperishable Self/Truth as the ground of realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes abhidhyāna (steady contemplation/meditation), especially satyābhidhyāna—truth-centered dhyāna—suggesting a yogic pivot from outward confusion to sustained inner focus that culminates in siddhi (spiritual accomplishment).

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

While not naming Shiva or Vishnu directly, its focus on Satya as the highest contemplative object fits the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: ultimate Truth is approached through yogic contemplation beyond sectarian labels, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava frames of liberation.