Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 99

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मजन्मा हरेर्मूर्तिर्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मिका / ब्रह्मेशविष्णुजननी ब्रह्माख्या ब्रह्मसंश्रया

Transliteration

brahmajanmā harermūrtirbrahmaviṣṇuśivātmikā / brahmeśaviṣṇujananī brahmākhyā brahmasaṃśrayā

Translation

هي تجسّد هَري، ومنها يولد براهما؛ وهي ذاتُ براهمَا وفيشنو وشيفا. وهي أمُّ براهمَا وإيشا (شيفا) وفيشنو—تُعرَف باسم «برهمن»، وتستقرّ في برهمن (بل هي برهمن ذاته).

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मजन्मा: having Brahmā/Brahman as origin
• ब्रह्मजन्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मणः जन्म’ (having Brahmā as origin / born from Brahman)

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (gen. sg.)

• मूर्तिः: form, embodiment
• मूर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मिका: whose essence is Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva
• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + शिव + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिव-आत्मा यस्याः’ (whose essence is Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva)

• ब्रह्मेशविष्णुजननी: mother of Brahmā, Īśa and Viṣṇu
• ब्रह्मेशविष्णुजननी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मा + ईश + विष्णु + जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मेशविष्णूनां जननी’ (mother of Brahmā, Īśa, and Viṣṇu)

• ब्रह्माख्या: called Brahman
• ब्रह्माख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्म इति आख्या यस्याः’ (named ‘Brahman’)

• ब्रह्मसंश्रया: resting in Brahman
• ब्रह्मसंश्रया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मणि संश्रिता’ (resting in Brahman)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Brahma
• Shiva (Isha)
• Brahman
• Devi (Supreme Shakti)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the supreme principle with Brahman itself—self-established, the ultimate ground in which even the creator-god (Brahmā) and the Trimūrti functions arise—pointing to an Absolute beyond sectarian division.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-centered contemplation: meditating on the one Reality (Brahman) manifesting as Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva through Śakti, a key orientation for Pāśupata-style devotion allied with jñāna (knowledge of non-dual ground).

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

It presents Śiva and Viṣṇu (along with Brahmā) as expressions of a single supreme essence, emphasizing synthesis and non-sectarian unity characteristic of the Kurma Purana’s Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava integration.