Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 27

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

यो वामदेवो ऽङ्गिरसः शिष्यो रुद्रगणाग्रणीः / रक्षको योगिनां नित्यं वर्तते ऽसौ मदाज्ञया

Transliteration

yo vāmadevo 'ṅgirasaḥ śiṣyo rudragaṇāgraṇīḥ / rakṣako yogināṃ nityaṃ vartate 'sau madājñayā

Translation

那位瓦摩提婆（Vāmadeva）——安吉罗萨（Aṅgiras）之弟子、鲁陀罗众之首——恒常作为瑜伽行者的守护者，依我的命令而行。

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• vāmadevaḥ: Vāmadeva
• vāmadevaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmadeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• aṅgirasaḥ: of Aṅgiras
• aṅgirasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgirasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); patronymic/lineage term

• śiṣyaḥ: disciple
• śiṣyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• rudra-gaṇa-agraṇīḥ: leader of Rudra’s hosts
• rudra-gaṇa-agraṇīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + agraṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'leader of the Rudra-gaṇas'

• rakṣakaḥ: protector
• rakṣakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• yoginām: of yogins
• yoginām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nityam: always/constantly
• nityam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया एकवचन)

• vartate: acts/remains
• vartate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• asau: that one
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mat-ājñayā: by my command
• mat-ājñayā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) ājñā, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'by my command'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in an Ishvara-like authoritative register

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vāmadeva
• Aṅgiras
• Rudra
• Rudra-gaṇas
• Yogins

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies a single supreme sovereignty: even Rudra’s chief attendant acts by the Lord’s command, suggesting one overarching Īśvara who governs protective cosmic functions for spiritual aspirants.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the yogin’s safeguarded path—an idea central to Pāśupata-leaning discipline in the Kurma Purana—where sincere practitioners are protected from obstacles as they maintain steady practice (abhyāsa) under divine oversight.

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

It presents functional unity: Rudra’s gaṇas operate within the command of the supreme speaker (Kurma/Vishnu), reflecting the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Shaiva agencies serve the same ultimate divine order.