Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

एष नारायणो ऽनन्तो ममैव परमा तनुः / भविष्यति तवेशानो योगक्षेमवहो हरिः

Transliteration

eṣa nārāyaṇo 'nanto mamaiva paramā tanuḥ / bhaviṣyati taveśāno yogakṣemavaho hariḥ

Translation

此即那罗延——无尽者阿难陀——实为我自身的至上形体。他将成为你的主宰：哈利，承载并护持你的瑜伽与刹摩——你的灵性成就与安泰福祉。

Word by Word

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनन्तः: Ananta (the endless one)
• अनन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to नारायणः

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन; तनुः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तनुः: body/form
• तनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तव: your/of you
• तव: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईशानः: the Lord
• ईशानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हरिः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• योगक्षेमवहः: bearing (your) welfare and security
• योगक्षेमवहः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग-क्षेम-वह (प्रातिपदिक; योग + क्षेम + वह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हरिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; ‘yogakṣema’ (acquisition & protection) + ‘vah’ (bearing)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

A divine teacher-voice identifying Narayana as the supreme form (Kurma Purana narrative context: Vishnu/Kurma-centric revelation).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Ananta
• Hari

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as manifesting in a personal, accessible form—Nārāyaṇa/Ananta—indicating that the highest reality can be approached as Īśvara who is both transcendent (infinite) and immanent (a “supreme form”).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Rather than listing techniques, the verse emphasizes dependence on Īśvara for “yoga-kṣema”: successful spiritual integration (yoga) and the safeguarding of one’s path and life-needs (kṣema). In Kurma Purana’s broader yogic ethic, this supports steady practice sustained by surrender, discipline, and divine protection.

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

By stressing a single supreme lordship expressed through Nārāyaṇa (Hari/Ananta), it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest Īśvara is one, revered through complementary Shaiva and Vaishnava names and functions.