Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 105

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मतेजोमयं शुक्लं यदेतन् मण्डलं रवेः / भवत्येव धृतं स्थानमैश्वरं तिलके कृते

Transliteration

brahmatejomayaṃ śuklaṃ yadetan maṇḍalaṃ raveḥ / bhavatyeva dhṛtaṃ sthānamaiśvaraṃ tilake kṛte

Translation

ذلك القرصُ الأبيضُ للشمس، المصنوعُ من إشراقِ البَرَهْمَن—إذا حُمِلَ تِيلَكَةً على الجبين—فإنه يصير حقًّا مقامًا كَمقامِ الإيشڤرا، موضعَ السيادةِ الإلهيةِ على لابسِه.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-तेजो-मयम्: made of Brahman’s radiance
• ब्रह्म-तेजो-मयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• शुक्लम्: white, bright
• शुक्लम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• यत्: which
• यत्: Viśeṣya/Anvaya (विशेष्य/अन्वय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣya/Anvaya (विशेष्य/अन्वय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मण्डलम्: disc, orb
• मण्डलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• रवेः: of the Sun
• रवेः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• धृतम्: held, placed
• धृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘held/placed’

• स्थानम्: abode, state
• स्थानम्: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• ऐश्वरम्: lordly, divine
• ऐश्वरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तिलके: in/with the tilaka mark
• तिलके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• कृते: when done/made
• कृते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (context: dharma and sacred marks)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Sun)
• Brahman
• Īśvara
• Tilaka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Sun’s orb “Brahman-made radiance,” the verse points to a single luminous spiritual principle behind visible forms; the tilaka becomes a reminder that the wearer should abide in that Brahman-like purity and sovereignty (aiśvarya).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes a dhārmic aid to practice: wearing tilaka as an outer discipline that supports inner recollection (smṛti) of Īśvara/Brahman—aligned with Purāṇic yoga where bodily observances (niyama, śauca) reinforce meditation and devotion.

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

Using the term “aiśvara” (Īśvara) with Brahman-radiance language reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology: the divine sovereignty signified by the tilaka is not sectarian, but points to the one Īśvara honored across Shaiva and Vaishnava frames.