Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya

Devanagari script

एकादशं मनस्तत्र स्वगुणेनोभयात्मकम् / भूततन्मात्रसर्गो ऽयं भूतादेरभवन् प्रजाः

Transliteration

ekādaśaṃ manastatra svaguṇenobhayātmakam / bhūtatanmātrasargo 'yaṃ bhūtāderabhavan prajāḥ

Translation

Dort entstand als elftes Prinzip der Geist (manas) — kraft seiner eigenen Qualität ist er von zweifacher Natur. Dies ist die Emanation der tanmātras und der bhūtas; und aus dem bhūtādi, dem Urgrund der Elemente, gingen die Wesen (prajās) hervor.

Word by Word

• एकादशम्: the eleventh
• एकादशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (एक + दश)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: there/in that set
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there/in that context)

• स्वगुणेन: by its own quality
• स्वगुणेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्वस्य गुणः)

• उभयात्मकम्: of dual nature
• उभयात्मकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (उभयम् आत्मा यस्य)

• भूततन्मात्रसर्गः: creation of elements and tanmātras
• भूततन्मात्रसर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्मात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (भूतानां तन्मात्राणां च सर्गः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भूतादेः: of bhūta etc./of the elements and so on
• भूतादेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (भूतम् आदि यस्य)

• अभवन्: came into being
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रजाः: creatures/progeny
• प्रजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s cosmology to the sages, within the Purva-bhaga discourse tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Manas
• Tanmātras
• Bhūtas
• Prajās

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it maps the evolutes of prakṛti—mind, tanmātras, and bhūtas—implying that the Atman is distinct from these changing principles and is known by discerning the self from the mind–element complex.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports sāṅkhya-viveka used in Yoga: observe mind (manas) as an instrument with a dual function (inner resolve and outer sense-coordination), then withdraw identification from its modifications—an underpinning for dhyāna and vairāgya emphasized across Kurma Purana teachings.

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

This specific verse is cosmological rather than devotional; yet its tattva-based account aligns with the Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis by presenting a shared philosophical framework (creation through principles) that both Shiva- and Vishnu-centered teachings employ.