Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वा तत्परमं भावमैश्वरं ब्रह्मभावनम् / प्रोवाचोत्थाय भगवान् देवदेवं पितामहम्

Transliteration

jñātvā tatparamaṃ bhāvamaiśvaraṃ brahmabhāvanam / provācotthāya bhagavān devadevaṃ pitāmaham

Translation

Nachdem er jenen höchsten, herrscherlichen Zustand erkannt hatte—die Betrachtung Brahmans als des Herrn—erhob sich der Erhabene und sprach zum Großvater Brahmā, dem Vater der Götter.

Word by Word

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भावम्: state/nature
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऐश्वरम्: lordly/divine
• ऐश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्मभावनम्: contemplation/realization of Brahman
• ब्रह्मभावनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + भावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (brahmaṇaḥ bhāvanam)

• प्रोवाच: said/spoke forth
• प्रोवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• उत्थाय: having risen
• उत्थाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), उपसर्ग: उत्-

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• देवदेवम्: the god of gods
• देवदेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devānāṃ devaḥ)

• पितामहम्: the grandsire (Brahmā)
• पितामहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Lord Kurma/Vishnu addressing Brahmā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan (Lord Kurma/Vishnu)
• Brahma (Pitamaha)
• Ishvara
• Brahman

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the highest realization as an aiśvara (Īśvara-centered) bhāva grounded in brahma-bhāvanā—meditative contemplation of Brahman—implying that the Supreme is both transcendent Brahman and the personal Lord.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice indicated is brahma-bhāvanā: sustained contemplative absorption on Brahman/Īśvara, aligning with the Ishvara-Gita’s yogic emphasis on inner realization rather than mere ritual.

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

By using Īśvara-language alongside Brahman-contemplation while the Blessed Lord speaks authoritatively, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the one Supreme (Īśvara/Brahman) is expressed through multiple divine forms.