Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 11

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

प्रजापतीनां दक्षो ऽहं निरृतिः सर्वरक्षसाम् / वायुर्बलवतामस्मि द्वीपानां पुष्करो ऽस्म्यहम्

Transliteration

prajāpatīnāṃ dakṣo 'haṃ nirṛtiḥ sarvarakṣasām / vāyurbalavatāmasmi dvīpānāṃ puṣkaro 'smyaham

Translation

在诸生主（Prajāpati）之中，我为达刹（Dakṣa）；在一切罗刹（Rākṣasa）之中，我为尼利提（Nirṛti）。于诸强力者中，我为风神伐由（Vāyu）；于诸洲岛（dvīpa）之中，我为补湿迦罗（Puṣkara）。

Word by Word

• prajāpatīnām: of Prajāpatis
• prajāpatīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष (prajāyāḥ patiḥ)

• dakṣaḥ: Dakṣa
• dakṣaḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nirṛtiḥ: Nirṛti
• nirṛtiḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-rakṣasām: of all rākṣasas/demons
• sarva-rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); समास: कर्मधारय (sarvāṇi rakṣāṃsi)

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu (wind)
• vāyuḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• balavatām: of the strong
• balavatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective used substantively (विशेषण-प्रयोगे नामवत्), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं) (form common in -vat stems)

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvīpānām: of islands/continents
• dvīpānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• puṣkaraḥ: Puṣkara
• puṣkaraḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in an Ishvara-Gita-like register of divine vibhutis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Nirriti
• Rakshasas
• Vayu
• Pushkara-dvipa
• Prajapatis

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the inner sovereignty behind all orders of beings—manifesting as the foremost principle within each category—indicating a single Lord pervading diverse names and forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports vibhūti-anusandhāna (contemplation on divine manifestations): a meditative method where the practitioner steadies the mind by recognizing Īśvara as the excellence (śreṣṭhatva) within strength, life-breath (Vāyu), and cosmic governance.

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

By framing the Supreme as the one reality expressing itself through many cosmic functions and deities, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the same Īśvara is honored through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava vocabularies.