Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

एकं चेदं चतुष्पादं चतुर्धा पुनरच्युतः / बिभेद वासुदेवो ऽसौ प्रद्युम्नो हरिरव्ययः

Transliteration

ekaṃ cedaṃ catuṣpādaṃ caturdhā punaracyutaḥ / bibheda vāsudevo 'sau pradyumno hariravyayaḥ

Translation

此《吠陀》本为一体，虽具“四足”之体例，仍由不堕之主阿周陀——即婆苏提婆自身、普拉丢姆那（Pradyumna）、哈利（Hari）不坏者——再分为四部。

Word by Word

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter); विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter pronoun)

• चतुष्पादम्: four-footed; fourfold (with four quarters)
• चतुष्पादम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुस् + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter); तत्पुरुषः: 'having four feet/quarters'

• चतुर्धा: into four parts/ways
• चतुर्धा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner): 'in four ways'

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb): 'again'

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (the infallible Lord)
• अच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular; नाम (epithet)

• बिभेद: divided
• बिभेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; 'split/divided'

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

• असौ: that (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (demonstrative pronoun)

• प्रद्युम्नः: Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic teaching about Vedic arrangement under the Lord’s agency

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta
• Vasudeva
• Pradyumna
• Hari

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Acyuta—imperishable and infallible—who remains one and unchanged while manifesting ordered forms of knowledge (the Veda) for the world’s guidance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself focuses on śāstra-pramāṇa (scriptural authority): Yoga and dharma are to be grounded in the Lord-ordered Vedic teaching, a key Kurma Purana premise later used to frame disciplines like Pāśupata-oriented practice.

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

By attributing the ordering of sacred knowledge to Hari/Vāsudeva, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the same Supreme Lord is the source of the authoritative teachings that also uphold Śaiva paths such as Pāśupata-yoga.