Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 50

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

मोहयित्वा मुनीन् सर्वान् पुनस्तैः संप्रपूजितः / प्रसन्नो भगवानीशो मुनीन्द्रान् प्राह भावितान्

Transliteration

mohayitvā munīn sarvān punastaiḥ saṃprapūjitaḥ / prasanno bhagavānīśo munīndrān prāha bhāvitān

Translation

先令诸牟尼尽皆迷惑，而后又为他们重新恭敬供奉；于是吉祥的主宰——伊湿（Īśa）心生欢喜，便对那些首座仙人、其心已由信敬与戒行所陶冶者，开示说道。

Word by Word

• mohayitvā: having deluded
• mohayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muh (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) + क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund): mohayitvā = having deluded

• munīn: sages
• munīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/पुनरावृत्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• saṃprapūjitaḥ: duly worshipped
• saṃprapūjitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-pra-√pūj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• prasannaḥ: pleased
• prasannaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक; √sad धातु-आधारित)
• Form: कृदन्त/विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• īśaḥ: the Lord
• īśaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• munīndrān: chief sages
• munīndrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (munīnām indraḥ) ‘chief of sages’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular perfect)

• bhāvitān: well-disposed; purified
• bhāvitān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāvita (प्रातिपदिक; √bhū/√bhāv धातु-आधारित)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

Speaker

Bhagavān Īśa (the Supreme Lord as Kurma/Vishnu in the Kurma Purana narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān
• Īśa
• Munis (sages)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Īśa (the Supreme Lord) as the conscious governor who can veil and reveal understanding—suggesting that realization is not merely intellectual but arises when the mind is purified and grace is received.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies inner cultivation (bhāvanā/discipline) and devotional reverence: the sages become “bhāvitāḥ” (refined) through tapas, steadiness, and worship—conditions that make them fit for upadeśa (yogic instruction), consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā framework.

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

By naming the speaker “Īśa/Bhagavān” in a Kurma (Vishnu) setting, it reflects the Purana’s synthesis where the Supreme is addressed with Śaiva titles while operating through Vaiṣṇava embodiment—pointing to one Īśvara beyond sectarian division.