Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Kapardeśvara at Piśācamocana — Liberation of a Piśāca and the Brahmapāra Hymn

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वैतदाश्चर्यवरं जैमिनिप्रमुखा द्विजाः / कपर्देश्वरमाहात्म्यं पप्रच्छुर्गुरुमच्युतम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvaitadāścaryavaraṃ jaiminipramukhā dvijāḥ / kapardeśvaramāhātmyaṃ papracchurgurumacyutam

Translation

目睹这至上奇迹后，以阇弥尼为首的再生圣贤们请问师尊阿周多：迦波尔德施瓦罗的圣德伟力（māhātmya）为何。

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √dṛś; indeclinable verbal form expressing prior action

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: etat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• āścarya-varam: the most wonderful (thing)
• āścarya-varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āścarya (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (determinative): āścaryasya varam = excellent wonder

• jaimini-pramukhāḥ: headed by Jaimini
• jaimini-pramukhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaimini (प्रातिपदिक) + pramukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुष: jaiminir pramukhaḥ yeṣām = headed by Jaimini

• dvijāḥ: Brahmins (twice-born)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• kapardeśvara-māhātmyam: the glory of Kapardeśvara
• kapardeśvara-māhātmyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardeśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: kapardeśvarasya māhātmyam

• papracchuḥ: asked
• papracchuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√prach (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; parasmaipada; from √prach with prefix pra-

• gurum: the teacher
• gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• acyutam: Acyuta (the infallible one)
• acyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper epithet

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration introducing the sages’ question to Acyuta/Lord Kurma-Vishnu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jaimini
• Dvijas (Brahmin sages)
• Kapardeśvara
• Acyuta (Vishnu/Lord Kurma)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by naming the guru as “Acyuta” (the Imperishable), it points to the Supreme as unchanging and reliable as the highest source of knowledge, before whom even learned sages inquire.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is taught in this verse; it sets the pedagogical frame—sages approaching the divine teacher—through which Kurma Purana later communicates dharma, tīrtha-discipline, and (in other sections) Pāśupata-oriented spiritual instruction.

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

By having sages ask Vishnu/Acyuta about the māhātmya of a Śaiva deity (Kapardeśvara), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: Vishnu can authoritatively praise and explain Śiva’s sacred manifestations, supporting Shiva–Vishnu unity.