Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89
Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti
तिस्त्रस्तु मूर्तयः प्रोक्ता ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः / रजः सत्त्वतमोयोगात् परस्य परमात्मनः
tistrastu mūrtayaḥ proktā brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ / rajaḥ sattvatamoyogāt parasya paramātmanaḥ
তিনটি রূপ ঘোষিত—ব্রহ্মা, বিষ্ণু ও মহেশ্বর—পরমাত্মার রজঃ, সত্ত্ব ও তমঃ গুণের সংযোগ থেকে প্রকাশিত।
Narratorial/teaching voice within the Kurma Purana’s doctrinal exposition (attributed in tradition to Lord Kūrma’s instruction stream)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents the Paramātman as the ultimate basis from which the three divine functions/personae are expressed, with the guṇas serving as the explanatory principle for differentiated manifestation.
No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; it supplies a metaphysical framework (triguṇa theory) that later supports yoga-practice by guiding discernment (viveka) beyond sattva-rajas-tamas toward the Supreme.
It places Viṣṇu and Maheśvara alongside Brahmā as co-manifest forms grounded in the one Paramātman, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative, non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaiṣṇava theology.