Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

परीचिभृग्वङ्गिरसः पुलस्त्यं पुलहं क्रतुम् / दक्षमत्रिं वसिष्ठं च सो ऽसृजद् योगविद्यया

Transliteration

parīcibhṛgvaṅgirasaḥ pulastyaṃ pulahaṃ kratum / dakṣamatriṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca so 'sṛjad yogavidyayā

Translation

যোগবিদ্যাৰ শক্তিৰে তেওঁ পৰীচি, ভৃগু, অঙ্গিৰস, পুলস্ত্য, পুলহ, ক্রতু, দক্ষ, অত্রি আৰু বশিষ্ঠক সৃষ্টি কৰিলে।

Word by Word

• parīcibhṛgvaṅgirasaḥ: Marichi, Bhrigu, and Angiras
• parīcibhṛgvaṅgirasaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marīci + bhṛgu + aṅgiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural. (Note: 'parīci' in text likely 'marīci')

• pulastyam: Pulastya
• pulastyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pulastya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pulaham: Pulaha
• pulaham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pulaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kratum: Kratu
• kratum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dakṣam: Daksha
• dakṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• atrim: Atri
• atrim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vasiṣṭham: Vasistha
• vasiṣṭham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

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

• saḥ: He
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• asṛjat: Created
• asṛjat: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect Past (Lan/लङ्), 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular

• yogavidyayā: Through the power/knowledge of Yoga
• yogavidyayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse; traditionally Sūta recounting to sages, describing the cosmic progenitor’s emanation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Parīci
• Bhṛgu
• Aṅgiras
• Pulastya
• Pulaha
• Kratu
• Dakṣa
• Atri
• Vasiṣṭha
• Yoga-vidyā

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that creation is not merely mechanical but proceeds from yogic mastery (yoga-vidyā), suggesting a conscious, self-possessed source whose inner power can manifest cosmic orders—an outlook compatible with the Purāṇa’s theistic-yogic metaphysics.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights yoga-vidyā as siddhi-like inner mastery: disciplined knowledge and concentration through which higher beings can emanate or order creation—an idea that later harmonizes with Kurma Purana themes of Pāśupata-oriented yoga and īśvara-centered contemplation.

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

While not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu directly, it frames cosmic origination through yogic power, a shared theological language used by the Kurma Purana to bridge Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava visions: the Supreme manifests the sages through yoga-śakti, regardless of sectarian emphasis.