Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा समागतं देवं भिक्षमाणमरुन्धती / वसिष्ठस्य प्रिया भार्या प्रत्युद्गम्य ननाम नम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā samāgataṃ devaṃ bhikṣamāṇamarundhatī / vasiṣṭhasya priyā bhāryā pratyudgamya nanāma nam

Translation

阿伦达蒂——瓦西什塔所钟爱的贤妻——见神明以行乞者之相前来求施，便趋前迎接，恭敬顶礼。

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• samāgatam: arrived
• samāgatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhikṣamāṇam: begging
• bhikṣamāṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhikṣamāṇa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √bhikṣ धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्यय (Present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• arundhatī: Arundhatī
• arundhatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arundhatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• vasiṣṭhasya: of Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• priyā: beloved
• priyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of bhāryā

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• pratyudgamya: having gone out to meet (him)
• pratyudgamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ud-gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• nanāma: bowed
• nanāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• nam: salutation
• nam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); नमः-शब्दस्य वैदिक/प्राकृत-रूप ‘nam’

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (contextual narration within the Kurma Purana’s sage-dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Arundhatī
• Vasiṣṭha
• Deva (the Lord in mendicant form)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By depicting the “deva” appearing as a humble alms-seeker, the verse implies that the Supreme can be present in ordinary, even ascetic forms—inviting recognition beyond external appearances and encouraging reverence to the indwelling divinity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the yogic ethic of humility and disciplined hospitality (atithi-satkara) in āśrama life—an outward expression of inner restraint (yama/niyama-like virtues) that supports steadiness of mind and devotional orientation.

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

While not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly, the Purāṇic motif of the Lord adopting an ascetic, mendicant mode resonates with the shared Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava spiritual vocabulary of renunciation and divine immanence, supporting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis in practice and outlook.