Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 111

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

महान्तं तेजसो राशिमगम्यं ब्रह्मविद्विषाम् / चतुर्मुखमुदाराङ्गमर्चिभिरुपशोभितम्

Transliteration

mahāntaṃ tejaso rāśimagamyaṃ brahmavidviṣām / caturmukhamudārāṅgamarcibhirupaśobhitam

Translation

Sie erblickten einen gewaltigen Strom von Glanz—unerreichbar für jene, die Brahman feind sind—und darin stand der Viergesichtige, weitgliedrig und von edler Gestalt, von Lichtflammen strahlend geschmückt.

Word by Word

• महान्तम्: great
• महान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महान्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Accusative singular; adjective)

• तेजसः: of radiance/energy
• तेजसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Neuter, Genitive singular)

• राशिम्: heap, mass
• राशिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• अगम्यम्: unapproachable
• अगम्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + अ (उपसर्ग/निषेध) → अगम्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गम्य-प्रत्ययान्त (यत्), नञ्-पूर्वक; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; gerundive/ya-participle)

• ब्रह्मविद्विषाम्: of the haters of Brahman
• ब्रह्मविद्विषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—ब्रह्मणः विद्विषः (those who hate Brahman)

• चतुर्मुखम्: four-faced
• चतुर्मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य (Masculine, Accusative singular; bahuvrihi)

• उदाराङ्गम्: noble-limbed
• उदाराङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदार (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—उदारम् अङ्गं यस्य/उदारम् अङ्गम् (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• अर्चिभिः: with flames/rays
• अर्चिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental plural)

• उपशोभितम्: adorned
• उपशोभितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ् (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग) → उपशोभित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण (Masculine, Accusative singular; past passive participle)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing the vision in the cosmogonic context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Brahma (Caturmukha)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as an immense, inaccessible radiance (tejas) identified with Brahman—reachable only through reverence and alignment with Brahman, not through hostility to it.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not naming a technique, the verse implies an inner discipline: approach to Brahman requires purity of intent and contemplative receptivity to the “radiance” of the Absolute—an orientation consistent with Kurma Purana’s yoga-śāstra emphasis on fitness (adhikāra) for realization.

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

Indirectly, it frames divinity as a single Brahmanic radiance from which cosmic functions (like Brahmā’s manifestation) proceed—supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian, integrative vision where sectarian hostility is a barrier to truth.