Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

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

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वाथ देववचनं विष्णुर्विश्वजगन्मयः / प्राह प्रसन्नया वाचा समालोक्य चतुर्मुखम्

Transliteration

śrutvātha devavacanaṃ viṣṇurviśvajaganmayaḥ / prāha prasannayā vācā samālokya caturmukham

Translation

Nachdem Viṣṇu—der das ganze Universum durchdringt und in allen Welten gegenwärtig ist—die Worte des Gottes vernommen hatte, sprach er mit gütiger, ruhiger Stimme und blickte zum Viergesichtigen (Brahmā).

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having heard’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक/अनन्तरार्थक (conjunctive particle: then/now)

• देववचनम्: the god’s words
• देववचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-वचन (प्रातिपदिक; देव + वचन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विश्वजगन्मयः: pervading/constituted of the whole universe
• विश्वजगन्मयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व-जगत्-मय (प्रातिपदिक; विश्व + जगत् + मय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विष्णुः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्राह: said/spoke
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु; perfect-like past form)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect) / आर्ष-प्रयोगे भूतार्थे; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रसन्नया: with a serene/pleased
• प्रसन्नया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; वाचा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वाचा: voice/speech
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• समालोक्य: having looked at
• समालोक्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + लोक् (धातु) → समालोक्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having looked at’

• चतुर्मुखम्: the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• चतुर्मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्-मुख (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘one who has four faces’ (Brahmā)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing Vishnu’s response to Brahma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma (Caturmukha)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Vishnu “viśva-jagan-mayaḥ,” the verse presents the Supreme as immanent—pervading and present as the very ground of the universe—hinting at an Atman/Ishvara who is not separate from cosmic existence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; instead it models sāttvika speech and divine composure—an ethical-psychological foundation valued in Yoga-shastra (prasanna-vāk), which supports steadiness of mind for higher contemplation.

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

While Shiva is not named here, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis is served by portraying Vishnu as the all-pervading supreme who teaches with serene authority—an attribute the text elsewhere aligns with Ishvara (often articulated through Shaiva-Vaishnava unity).