Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Incarnations of Mahādeva in Kali-yuga (Vaivasvata Manvantara) and the Nakulīśa Horizon

Devanagari script

तत्र देवादिदेवस्य चत्वारः सुतपोधनाः / शिष्या बभूवुश्चान्येषां प्रत्येकं मुनिपुङ्गवाः

Transliteration

tatra devādidevasya catvāraḥ sutapodhanāḥ / śiṣyā babhūvuścānyeṣāṃ pratyekaṃ munipuṅgavāḥ

Translation

在那里，于诸神之神之前，四位以苦行为资粮的苦行者成为弟子；而其余诸人亦各自有最上牟尼、诸见者之首，分别为师。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb), स्थानवाचक (locative adverb)

• देव-आदि-देवस्य: of the god who is the first among gods
• देव-आदि-देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): देवस्य आदिः देवः = देवादिदेवः

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• सुतपोधनाः: those whose wealth is good austerity (great ascetics)
• सुतपोधनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: सु-तपः धनं येषां ते

• शिष्याः: disciples
• शिष्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• बभूवुः: became / were
• बभूवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अन्येषाम्: of others
• अन्येषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• प्रत्येकम्: each, individually
• प्रत्येकम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb): प्रति + एकम् = each, individually

• मुनि-पुङ्गवाः: bulls among sages (foremost sages)
• मुनि-पुङ्गवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/उपमान-भाव): मुनिषु पुङ्गवाः

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic lineage/disciplic succession in the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devādideva (Supreme Lord)
• Muni-puṅgava (eminent sages)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the source “Devādideva,” the verse points to a single supreme principle revered above all gods; the emphasis is not on sectarian difference but on the highest reality from which authoritative teaching-lines proceed.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity and disciplined practice) as the qualification for discipleship—implying the Yogic ideal that self-restraint and sustained sādhanā are prerequisites for receiving and transmitting higher instruction.

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

Through the title “Devādideva,” the Kurma Purana keeps the focus on one supreme lordship that can be praised in both Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms, supporting its characteristic synthesis while grounding teachings in realized sages and their lineages.