Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time

Devanagari script

महाभूतेषु नानात्वमिन्द्रियार्थेषु मूर्तिषु / विनियोगं च भूतानां धातैव विदधात् स्वयम्

Transliteration

mahābhūteṣu nānātvamindriyārtheṣu mūrtiṣu / viniyogaṃ ca bhūtānāṃ dhātaiva vidadhāt svayam

Translation

إنّ التنوّع في العناصر العظمى، وفي موضوعات الحواس، وفي الصور المتجسّدة—بل وحتى توزيع الوظائف بين الكائنات—إنما يصوغه دهاطر (Dhātṛ)، المُقَدِّر الكوني، وحده وبمحض إرادته.

Word by Word

• महाभूतेषु: in the great elements
• महाभूतेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महानि भूतानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नानात्वम्: diversity
• नानात्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नानात्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), एकवचन (Singular)

• इन्द्रिय-अर्थेषु: in the objects of the senses
• इन्द्रिय-अर्थेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (इन्द्रियाणाम् अर्थाः); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मूर्तिषु: in forms/bodies
• मूर्तिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विनियोगम्: allocation/assignment
• विनियोगम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/द्वितीया), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भूतानाम्: of beings/elements
• भूतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• धाता: the creator/ordainer
• धाता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• विदधात्: he arranged/ordained
• विदधात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• स्वयम्: by himself
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb); आत्मवाचक (reflexive)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna in cosmological doctrine

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dhātṛ
• Mahābhūta
• Indriya
• Artha
• Mūrti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a single supreme ordering principle (Dhātṛ/Īśvara) behind all multiplicity—elements, sense-objects, and forms—implying that apparent diversity is governed by one conscious regulator rather than being ultimate in itself.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a yogic contemplative approach: meditate on the Lord as the inner ordainer of the tattvas (elements and sense-fields), cultivating detachment from sensory variety and steadiness in īśvara-bhāvanā (God-centered contemplation).

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

By attributing cosmic regulation to one Dhātṛ/Īśvara, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same supreme Lord is praised through Shaiva and Vaishnava names while remaining the single source of cosmic order.