Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

भो भो व्यास महाबुद्धे शप्तव्या भवता न हि / गृहाण भिक्षां मत्तस्त्वमुक्त्वैवं प्रददौ शिवा

Transliteration

bho bho vyāsa mahābuddhe śaptavyā bhavatā na hi / gṛhāṇa bhikṣāṃ mattastvamuktvaivaṃ pradadau śivā

Translation

“喂，毗耶娑，大慧者！你不应诅咒。请从我这里受取施食。”说罢，湿婆女神（帕尔瓦蒂）便赐与他乞食之物。

Word by Word

• भो: O!
• भो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भो (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• भो: O!
• भो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भो (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (repetition for emphasis)

• व्यास: O Vyāsa
• व्यास: सम्बोधन (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाबुद्धे: O great-minded one
• महाबुद्धे: सम्बोधन (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महती बुद्धिः यस्य’ (vocative)

• शप्तव्या: should be cursed
• शप्तव्या: विधेय (Predicate/necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भिक्षा’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be cursed)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; आदरार्थक (by you, respectfully)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• हि: indeed, surely
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/causal particle)

• गृहाण: take, accept
• गृहाण: क्रिया (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मत्तः: from me
• मत्तः: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/पञ्चमी-एकवचन रूपम्; अत्र पञ्चमी विभक्ति (ablative) ‘from me’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Subject of implied action)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: सम्बन्ध (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• प्रददौ: gave
• प्रददौ: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शिवा: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Shivā (Pārvatī)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Shivā (Pārvatī)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it emphasizes restraint and humility in spiritual authority: even a great sage like Vyāsa is guided away from anger and cursing, aligning conduct with dharma—an essential prerequisite for realizing the Self in Purāṇic yoga-ethics.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technical āsana or dhyāna is stated; the verse highlights ethical discipline (yama-like restraint), especially control of speech and anger. Such inner regulation is treated in Purāṇic yoga as foundational for higher contemplation.

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

While Vishnu is not named in this line, the Kurma Purana’s broader frame presents harmony among divine principles: Śivā’s gentle correction of Vyāsa models dharmic balance, consistent with the text’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis rather than sectarian conflict.