Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

प्रथमा भावना पूर्वे सांख्ये त्वक्षरभावना / तृतीये चान्तिमा प्रोक्ता भावना पारमेश्वरी

Transliteration

prathamā bhāvanā pūrve sāṃkhye tvakṣarabhāvanā / tṛtīye cāntimā proktā bhāvanā pārameśvarī

Translation

In the earlier Sāṃkhya teaching, the first contemplation is declared to be contemplation on the Imperishable (Akṣara). And in the third teaching, the final contemplation is proclaimed—the supreme Parameśvarī contemplation, centered on the Lord.

Word by Word

• प्रथमा: the first
• प्रथमा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावना इति विशेषणम्

• भावना: contemplation/meditation
• भावना: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूर्वे: in the former (path)
• पूर्वे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘पूर्वे (योगे)’ इत्यर्थे

• सांख्ये: in Sāṃkhya
• सांख्ये: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सांख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Contrast particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• अक्षरभावना: contemplation on the Imperishable (Brahman)
• अक्षरभावना: प्रत्यय/विशेष्य (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर-भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अक्षरे (ब्रह्मणि) भावना

• तृतीये: in the third (path)
• तृतीये: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘तृतीये (योगे)’ इत्यर्थे

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अन्तिमा: the final
• अन्तिमा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावना इति विशेषणम्

• प्रोक्ता: is declared
• प्रोक्ता: विधेय (Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• भावना: contemplation
• भावना: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पारमेश्वरी: supreme/divine (belonging to the Supreme Lord)
• पारमेश्वरी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारमेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावना इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Purāṇic teaching in the Kurma Purana’s doctrinal discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Akṣara
• Parameśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Akṣara (the Imperishable) as the core object of contemplation in Sāṃkhya, indicating an unchanging, transcendent principle that stands beyond perishable phenomenas (changing phenomena).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights bhāvanā—systematic meditative cultivation—first as Akṣara-bhāvanā (contemplation on the Imperishable) and culminates in pārameśvarī-bhāvanā, an Īśvara-centered contemplation aligned with Pāśupata-style theistic yoga.

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

By moving from Akṣara contemplation to pārameśvarī (Parameśvara-centered) contemplation, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: liberation is framed through a supreme Lord principle that harmonizes sectarian emphases rather than insisting on separation.