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Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Lineage of Vyāsas, Division of the Veda, and Vāsudeva/Īśāna as the Veda-Known Supreme

भेदैरष्टादशैर्व्यासः पुराणं कृतवान् प्रभुः / सो ऽयमेकश्चतुष्पादो वेदः पूर्वं पुरातनात्

bhedairaṣṭādaśairvyāsaḥ purāṇaṃ kṛtavān prabhuḥ / so 'yamekaścatuṣpādo vedaḥ pūrvaṃ purātanāt

以十八种分门,尊贵的毗耶娑编成《往世书》(Purāṇa)。此教法在往昔本为一部具“四足”的唯一吠陀,自极古之世相传而来。

भेदैःby divisions
भेदैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन
अष्टादशैःeighteen (in number)
अष्टादशैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअष्टादश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण
व्यासःVyāsa
व्यासः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootव्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन
पुराणम्the Purāṇa
पुराणम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन
कृतवान्compiled
कृतवान्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formक्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतार्थ (made/compiled)
प्रभुःthe Lord
प्रभुः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विशेष्य), एकवचन
सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन
अयम्this
अयम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/निर्देश), एकवचन
एकःone
एकः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण
चतुष्पादःfour-footed / having four parts
चतुष्पादः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootचतुस् + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (चत्वारः पादाः यस्य)
वेदःthe Veda
वेदः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootवेद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विशेष्य), एकवचन
पूर्वम्formerly
पूर्वम्:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्वम् (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘formerly/earlier’)
पुरातनात्from the ancient (original)
पुरातनात्:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootपुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; तुलनार्थ/उत्पत्त्यर्थ ‘from the ancient (state/source)’

Sūta (traditional narrator) describing Vyāsa’s arrangement of Veda and Purāṇa within the Purāṇic transmission

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

V
Vyāsa
V
Veda
P
Purāṇa

FAQs

Indirectly: it emphasizes the continuity of sacred knowledge—from the ancient one Veda to later organized Purāṇic teaching—implying that liberating truth (including knowledge of Self) is preserved through authoritative transmission.

No specific practice is taught in this verse; it establishes scriptural pedigree. In the Kurma Purana, such authority undergirds later disciplines (e.g., Pāśupata-oriented devotion, jñāna, and yoga) by rooting them in the Vedic stream.

Not explicitly. Its focus is on shared scriptural origin and organization, a framework the Kurma Purana later uses to harmonize sectarian teachings—presenting Shaiva and Vaishnava paths as grounded in one ancient sacred knowledge.