Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 13

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

स सर्वलोकनिर्माता मन्नियोगेन सर्ववित् / भूत्वा चतुर्मुखः सर्गं सृजत्येवात्मसंभवः

Transliteration

sa sarvalokanirmātā manniyogena sarvavit / bhūtvā caturmukhaḥ sargaṃ sṛjatyevātmasaṃbhavaḥ

Translation

وبأمري يصير المولود من ذاته، العليم بكل شيء، صانعَ العوالم كلّها؛ ثم إذ يتخذ هيئةَ ذي الوجوه الأربعة يخلق الخلق حقًّا، وهو منبثق من ذاته.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्व-लोक-निर्माता: creator of all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-निर्माता: सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्माता (प्रातिपदिक; √मा ‘measure/make’ with नि-, agent noun)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: “सर्वलोकानां निर्माता” (creator of all worlds); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मत्-नियोगेन: by my command
• मत्-नियोगेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी-अर्थक) + नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: “मम नियोगः”; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instr. sg.)

• सर्व-वित्: knower of all
• सर्व-वित्: सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; √विद्)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: “सर्वं वेत्ति” (knower of all); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): “having become”

• चतुर्मुखः: four-faced
• चतुर्मुखः: विशेषण (of सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास: “चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य” (one who has four faces); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्गम्: creation/emanation
• सर्गम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• सृजति: creates
• सृजति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) अवधारणे (emphasis)

• आत्म-सम्भवः: self-born
• आत्म-सम्भवः: विशेषण (of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+√भू)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: “आत्मनः सम्भवः/आत्मसम्भवः” (self-born); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna-context narration on creation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Brahma (Caturmukha, Atmasambhava)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents creation as proceeding under the Supreme Lord’s ordinance: Brahmā, though “self-born,” functions as an empowered agent (niyoga) of the higher Ishvara who governs cosmic order.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies an Ishvara-centric discipline: contemplation on the inner ruler who appoints cosmic functions supports devotion (īśvara-bhakti) and steady meditation (dhyāna) on divine sovereignty, a foundation for Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented teachings.

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

By stressing a single supreme ordinance behind creation, it aligns with the Purana’s synthetic theology: different divine forms and cosmic roles operate harmoniously under one ultimate reality, supporting a non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaishnava reading.