Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Time-Reckoning (Kāla-gaṇanā): Yugas, Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Prākṛta Pralaya

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मनारायणेशानां त्रयाणां प्रकृतौ लयः / प्रोच्यते कालयोगेन पुनरेव च संभवः

Transliteration

brahmanārāyaṇeśānāṃ trayāṇāṃ prakṛtau layaḥ / procyate kālayogena punareva ca saṃbhavaḥ

Translation

يُعلَّم أن براهما ونارايانا وإيشانا (شِڤا)—هؤلاء الثلاثة—يذوبون عائدين إلى بْرَكْرِتي. ثم باتحاد كالا (الزمن) ينهضون إلى الوجود من جديد.

Word by Word

• brahmanārāyaṇeśānāṃ: of Brahma, Narayana, and Isha (Shiva)
• brahmanārāyaṇeśānāṃ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-nārāyaṇa-īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• trayāṇāṃ: of the three
• trayāṇāṃ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• prakṛtau: in Prakriti (Nature)
• prakṛtau: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• layaḥ: dissolution
• layaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• procyate: is called/stated
• procyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vac (धातु)
• Form: Present Passive (Lat/लट्), 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular

• kālayogena: by the conjunction of time
• kālayogena: Karana (Cause/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla-yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis/अवधारण)

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• saṃbhavaḥ: origin/birth
• saṃbhavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages; doctrinal statement within the dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Narayana
• Ishana (Shiva)
• Prakriti
• Kala (Time)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By showing that even the cosmic triad (Brahmā, Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa, and Śiva/Īśāna) undergoes dissolution and re-manifestation through Prakṛti and Kāla, the verse implies a higher, unconditioned reality beyond mutable cosmic roles—pointing toward the transcendent Self/Iśvara that is not limited by cycles of manifestation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is primarily cosmological, but it supports a Yoga view used in the Kurma tradition: meditate on impermanence (laya) and cyclicity under Kāla to cultivate vairāgya (dispassion) and steadiness of mind, turning awareness from changing prakṛtic forms toward the changeless principle (Iśvara/Ātman) emphasized in later Yoga-oriented teachings.

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

Śiva (Īśāna) and Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa) are presented together with Brahmā as a single triad subject to the same cosmic law of dissolution and re-emergence, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where sectarian functions are harmonized within one overarching metaphysical order.