Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

Manvantaras, Indras, Saptarṣis, and the Seven Sustaining Manifestations; Vyāsa as Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

चाक्षुषे ऽप्यन्तरे चैव वैकुण्ठः पुरुषोत्तमः / विकुण्ठायामसौ जज्ञे वैकुण्ठैर्दैवतैः सह

Transliteration

cākṣuṣe 'pyantare caiva vaikuṇṭhaḥ puruṣottamaḥ / vikuṇṭhāyāmasau jajñe vaikuṇṭhairdaivataiḥ saha

Translation

在恰克舒沙（Cākṣuṣa）摩奴劫中亦复如是：至上之人、无上主宰毗昆陀（Vaikuṇṭha）显现；他由毗昆陀娅（Vikuṇṭhā）而生，并与名为毗昆陀众天（Vaikuṇṭhas）的诸神同生。

Word by Word

• चाक्षुषे: in (the) Cākṣuṣa (manvantara)
• चाक्षुषे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cākṣuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; qualifying 'antare' (in Cākṣuṣa manvantara)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), also

• अन्तरे: in the period/manvantara
• अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अवधारण)

• वैकुण्ठः: Vaikuṇṭha
• वैकुण्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaikuṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• पुरुषोत्तमः: the Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa-uttama (प्रातिपदिक: puruṣa + uttama)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'best among persons' (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense)

• विकुण्ठायाम्: in Vikuṇṭhā
• विकुण्ठायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikuṇṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; place 'in Vikuṇṭhā'

• असौ: he/that one
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asau (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• जज्ञे: was born
• जज्ञे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular; 'was born'

• वैकुण्ठैः: with the Vaikuṇṭha (gods)
• वैकुण्ठैः: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaikuṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifying 'daivataiḥ'

• दैवतैः: with the deities
• दैवतैः: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; 'divine beings'

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Accompaniment particle (सह-अर्थक अव्यय)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting Purāṇic chronology to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vaikuṇṭha
• Puruṣottama
• Cākṣuṣa Manu
• Vikuṇṭhā
• Vaikuṇṭha deities (Vaikuṇṭhas)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By naming the Lord as Puruṣottama and Vaikuṇṭha, the verse presents the Supreme as transcendent yet capable of manifesting within cosmic time (Manvantara), implying a reality beyond change that still governs and enters the world through divine appearance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; its yogic value is contemplative—meditation on the Lord as Puruṣottama who periodically manifests to sustain dharma, a foundation for bhakti-yoga and the integrated Shaiva-Vaishnava theism that later supports Kurma Purana teachings on disciplined practice.

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

While Shiva is not named here, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis frames such manifestations of the Supreme (Puruṣottama) as compatible with Shaiva theology: the one highest reality can be praised through different divine names and functions, supporting a non-sectarian, unity-oriented reading.