Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

तथोक्तो ऽसौ द्विधा स्त्रीत्वं पुरुषत्वमथाकरोत् / बिभेद पुरुषत्वं च दशधा चैकधा पुनः

Transliteration

tathokto 'sau dvidhā strītvaṃ puruṣatvamathākarot / bibheda puruṣatvaṃ ca daśadhā caikadhā punaḥ

Translation

So angewiesen, machte Er die Schöpfung zweifach: als Weiblichkeit und Männlichkeit; und wiederum gliederte Er das männliche Prinzip weiter—zehnfach und zugleich auch in eine einzige, einheitliche Gestalt.

Word by Word

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (तथाभाव)

• uktaḥ: having been told
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; of following action, implied)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'having been told'

• asau: that one (he)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun referring to Rudra

• dvidhā: in two ways / into two parts
• dvidhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of manner/number (प्रकारवाचक)

• strītvaṃ: womanhood
• strītvaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strītva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object/complement of 'akarot'

• puruṣatvam: manhood
• puruṣatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object/complement of 'akarot'

• atha: then
• atha: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक)

• akarot: made
• akarot: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• bibheda: split/divided
• bibheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhid (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• puruṣatvam: manhood
• puruṣatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of 'bibheda'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• daśadhā: tenfold
• daśadhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daśadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (into ten parts)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• ekadhā: as one / singly
• ekadhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (into one part / singly)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)
• Prakriti (implied)
• Purusha (implied)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Lord as the conscious cause who, while remaining one, manifests creation through differentiation—implying a unitary Self behind apparent plurality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; it supports Yogic contemplation by framing creation as a transformation of principles (tattvas), aiding discernment (viveka) between the One reality and its differentiated expressions.

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

By attributing cosmic differentiation to the single Ishvara speaking as Lord Kurma, the verse aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance: one Supreme Lord functions as the creator principle revered in both Shaiva and Vaishnava readings.