Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 4

Naimiṣa-kṣetra-prādurbhāva and Jāpyeśvara-māhātmya — Nandī’s Birth, Japa, and Consecration

Devanagari script

समेत्य सर्ववरदं चतुर्मूर्ति चतुर्मुखम् / पृच्छन्ति प्रणिपत्यैनं विश्वकर्माणमच्युतम्

Transliteration

sametya sarvavaradaṃ caturmūrti caturmukham / pṛcchanti praṇipatyainaṃ viśvakarmāṇamacyutam

Translation

众圣仙会集而来，趋近毗湿瓦羯磨（Viśvakarmā）——赐予一切愿的主，具四身四面。众人俯首顶礼这位不失之尊，恭敬请问那位神圣的造化匠师。

Word by Word

• समेत्य: having assembled/approached
• समेत्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), ‘having come together/approached’

• सर्ववरदम्: giver of all boons
• सर्ववरदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्ववरद (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + वरद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of the one addressed)

• चतुर्मूर्तिम्: four-formed
• चतुर्मूर्तिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + मूर्ति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• चतुर्मुखम्: four-faced
• चतुर्मुखम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्मुख (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पृच्छन्ति: they ask
• पृच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नि + √पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive), ‘having bowed down’

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विश्वकर्माणम्: Viśvakarman
• विश्वकर्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; विश्व + कर्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अच्युतम्: the infallible one
• अच्युतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक; a- + च्युत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the sages’/seekers’ approach to Viśvakarmā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Viśvakarmā

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes the classical discipline of approaching sacred knowledge through humility (praṇipāta) and inquiry, implying that higher truth is accessed through reverent transmission rather than mere argument.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the preparatory yogic ethic of śraddhā and vinaya—bowing and disciplined questioning—often treated as prerequisites for receiving mantra, worship-methods, and higher instruction in Purāṇic and Yoga-śāstra settings.

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

By using exalted divine epithets for a cosmic functionary (Viśvakarmā) and stressing reverent inquiry, the Purāṇa’s tone supports a synthetic vision: divine power manifests through multiple forms and offices without sectarian rupture.