Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

अद्भिर्दशगुणाभिश्च बाह्यतो ऽण्डं समावृतम् / आपो दशगुणेनैव तेजसा बाह्यतो वृताः

Transliteration

adbhirdaśaguṇābhiśca bāhyato 'ṇḍaṃ samāvṛtam / āpo daśaguṇenaiva tejasā bāhyato vṛtāḥ

Translation

Das kosmische Ei (brahmāṇḍa) ist außen von Wassern umhüllt, zehnfach an Maß; und diese Wasser sind wiederum außen von Feuer (tejas) umschlossen, ebenfalls zehnfach.

Word by Word

• अद्भिः: by waters
• अद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; करणार्थे

• दशगुणाभिः: tenfold (in measure)
• दशगुणाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + गुण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘अद्भिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; द्विगु-समासः (दश गुणाः यस्याः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• बाह्यतः: from outside/externally
• बाह्यतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाह्यतस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of place)

• अण्डम्: the egg
• अण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• समावृतम्: completely covered
• समावृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-√वृ (वृञ्/वृ धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘अण्डम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आपः: the waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• दशगुणेन: by a tenfold measure
• दशगुणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + गुण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; प्रमाणवाचक-विशेषणम्; द्विगु-समासः

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• तेजसा: by fire/energy (tejas)
• तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; करणार्थे

• बाह्यतः: externally
• बाह्यतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाह्यतस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम्

• वृताः: covered
• वृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वृ (वृञ्/वृ धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘आपः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narratorial voice (Purana narrator describing cosmology within the Kurma Purana’s creation account)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanda
• Ap (Cosmic Waters)
• Tejas (Fire element)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing layered cosmic coverings (water over the egg, fire over water), the verse implies that manifest creation is structured and veiled; the Atman/Ishvara is understood as transcending these elemental enclosures rather than being confined within them.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct practice is taught in this verse; however, it supports tattva-viveka (discernment of principles) used in Purāṇic and Yoga traditions—contemplating how the gross elements (bhūtas) successively envelop creation to cultivate detachment and inward inquiry.

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

The verse is cosmological rather than sectarian: it presents a shared Purāṇic model of elemental emanation and enclosure accepted across Shaiva and Vaishnava readings, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis by focusing on a common metaphysical framework.