106 - The Kurma Purana: Contents

God Brahmä said: 

1-2. O dear child, O Marichi, listen to the Purāņa called Kūrma. It covers the events of the Lakşhmi Kalpa. In the context of Indradyumna, the merciful Hari, assuming the form of a tortoise, proclaimed it to the sages the respective greatness of virtue, love, wealth and salvation. 

3. It consists of seventeen thousand verses.¹ It is very auspicious with four Samhitas. O sage, many of the Brāhma dharmas (religious duties) mentioned formerly, have been explained in it. 

1. According to the VT, Váyu, Bh. P. (xii. 13. 4-9) and Mt. P, itself, this Puråna consists of 14,000 verses while AP credits it with 13000 (or 13,003 as per A. S. Gupta) the BVP with 18,000 verses. The Anandashrama Press edit. contains 14,062 verses and its contents agree in general with those given in the NP. This agreement is probably due to its being the best preserved and the earliest of the 18 Puranas (Kane-HD. vii. p. 899). Kane also note that it has perhaps the largest number of Smruti chapters among Puranas and assigns 200 A. D. to 400 A. D. as its probable date. 

4. They are dealt with in the context of different stories. They are the bestowers of good position (hereafter) unto men. In the first subdivision there is the usual beginning at the outset. 

5. There is the dialogue between Lakşhmi and Indradyumna and the conversation between the Divine Tortoise and the groups of sages. Then is the account of the four castes (Varņas) and stages in life (Aśhramas, and their (prescribed) duties, the narration of the creation of the Universe. 

6. There is a brief description about the calculation of Time (such as Yugas, Manvantaras), at the end of the dis solution, there is the eulogy of the Lord (by Siddhas), then a brief description of the creation (or the universe) and the story of Shankara. 

7. The thousand names of Parvati, the exposition of the Yoga philosophy, the description of the family of Bhrugu, and then that of Svayambhuva (Manu). 

8. The origin of the Devas and others, then the destruction of Dakşha’s Yajňa, the story of the creation by Dakşha, then the narration of the lineage of Kaśhyapa (containing the account of the Solar and Lunar dynasties). 

9. The description of the family of Atri, the auspicious story of Krishņa, the dialogue between Krişhņa and Mārtanda (The Sun-god) and the conversation between Vyāsa and the Påņdavas. 

10. The narration of the characteristic nature of different Yugas (Yugadharma), the glorification of Vyāsa and Jaimini, the greatness of Varanasi and Prayaga. 

11-12. The description of the three worlds, the review of the branches of Vedas. In the latter half of the Purāņa there are the Iśhvaragītā and the Vyāsagitā. These two illuminate the different kinds of Dharmas; the greatness of the different holy centres is mentioned separately. 

13. Then there is the narration of Pratisarga (Dissolution of the Universe). This much is the summary of the first division named Brahmi Samhita. Henceforth, the compendium Bhagavati Samhitā is reviewed. 

14. In this division, the separate activities of the different castes are narrated. In the first quarter of this Samhită, the determination of duties etc. of the Brahmanas has been narrated. 

15. O dear one, it consists of good and disciplined life and it enhances their enjoyment and the happiness of worldly pleasures. In the second quarter, the functions of the profession of the Kşhatriyas are clearly enunciated. 

16-19a. If a (Kşhatriya) abides by these, he shall eschew sins and go to heaven. In the third quarter, the fourfold activities of the Vaishyas have been explained. If these are followed, one shall attain excellent salvation. In its fourth quarter, the activities of the Shūdras are explained. If these are followed, Lord Vişhņu becomes pleased and increases the welfare of men. In the fifth quarter the duties and functions of the mixed castes are explained. If they are followed, one attains excellent state of future life. 

19b. O sage, thus is narrated the second compendium (Samhitā) consisting of five sections (Pañchapadi). 

20. The third compendium is called Sauri. It lays down the various duties of men. To men who desire (to obtain some objects), it instructs the six karmans and their Siddhis in six different ways. 

21. The fourth compendium is called Vaişhnavi. It is glorified as the bestower of Liberation from Samsára. It consists of four sections (Chatus-padi). It is veritable Brahma i.e. the Veda incarnate to the twice-borns. 

22. The four Samhitas contain respectively six thousand, four thousand, two thousand and five thousand verses. 

23. This Kūrma Purana yields the benefit of four Vargas (the aims of life) viz. Dharma, Artha, Kama, Mokşha. It yields the best of all goals to the men who read and listen to it. 

24. He who writes this (Purăņa) with devotion and gives it to a Brāhmaṇa during the transit of the sun from the tropics, along with the replica of a tortoise in gold, attains the greatest goal.