Īśvara-gītā: Brahman as All-Pervading—Kāla, Prakṛti–Puruṣa, Tattva-Evolution, and Mokṣa
प्रधानं पुरुषं चैव तत्त्वद्वयमुदाहृतम् / तयोरनादिरुद्दिष्टः कालः संयोजकः परः
pradhānaṃ puruṣaṃ caiva tattvadvayamudāhṛtam / tayoranādiruddiṣṭaḥ kālaḥ saṃyojakaḥ paraḥ
Pradhāna (die uranfängliche Natur) und Puruṣa (das bewusste Selbst) werden als die zwei Grundprinzipien verkündet. Von diesen beiden wird Kāla (die Zeit) als anfangslos und höchst gelehrt, als transzendenter Vermittler, der beide zur Verbindung bringt.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (as preserved in the Kurma Purana’s teaching dialogue)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
It distinguishes Puruṣa as the conscious principle from Pradhāna (material nature), and presents Kāla as a beginningless, superior principle that coordinates their interaction—implying that consciousness is distinct from matter, while cosmic governance operates through transcendent Time.
No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; it provides the metaphysical framework used by Yoga and Pāśupata-oriented teachings—discriminating Puruṣa from Pradhāna and contemplating Kāla as the regulating power behind worldly change, which supports viveka (discernment) and vairāgya (dispassion).
By teaching a shared metaphysical structure (Pradhāna–Puruṣa governed by Kāla), the Purana frames doctrine in a way usable by both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva paths—supporting the text’s synthesis where the supreme governance of the cosmos is presented in a non-sectarian, integrative manner.