Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Sūrya’s Celestial Car: Ādityas, Ṛṣis, Gandharvas, Apsarases, Nāgas, and the Two-Month Cosmic Cycle

Devanagari script

अहोरात्रव्यवस्थानकारणं स प्रजापतिः / पितृदेवमनुष्यादीन् स सदाप्यायेद् रविः

Transliteration

ahorātravyavasthānakāraṇaṃ sa prajāpatiḥ / pitṛdevamanuṣyādīn sa sadāpyāyed raviḥ

Translation

هو براجابتي، العلّة التي تُقيم نظام الليل والنهار؛ وذلك الشمس (رافي) يظلّ يُغذّي على الدوام الآباء الأسلاف (بيتْرِ)، والآلهة (ديفا)، والبشر، وسائر الكائنات.

Word by Word

• ahorātra-vyavasthāna-kāraṇam: the cause of the arrangement of day and night
• ahorātra-vyavasthāna-kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahorātra + vyavasthāna + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Multi-member Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati (lord of creatures)
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'prajānāṃ patiḥ'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• pitṛ-deva-manuṣya-ādīn: the Pitṛs, gods, humans, and others
• pitṛ-deva-manuṣya-ādīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ + deva + manuṣya + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with ādi-suffix meaning 'and others'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• apyāyet: should nourish/refresh
• apyāyet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√pyā (धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• raviḥ: the Sun
• raviḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to subject

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice, traditionally Sūta/Vyāsa lineage) describing the cosmic function of Ravi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ravi
• Prajapati
• Pitrs
• Devas
• Manushyas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Ravi as the sustaining cause behind cosmic order (day/night) and universal nourishment, the verse points to a single governing principle that upholds all beings—an outward, visible sign of the inner sustaining Reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed, but the verse supports a contemplative practice common in Purāṇic Yoga: meditating on a cosmic function (the Sun regulating time and sustaining life) as an ālambana (support) to recognize Īśvara’s all-pervading governance.

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

Rather than separating sectarian deities, it emphasizes a unified Īśvara-function—cosmic regulation and nourishment—often interpreted in the Kurma Purana’s synthesis as the one Lord manifesting through names and powers (such as Ravi/Prajāpati) beyond exclusive Shaiva or Vaishnava framing.