Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 92

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

Devanagari script

प्रवर्तते मय्यजस्त्रमाद्या चाक्षरभावना / द्वितीया ब्रह्मणः प्रोक्ता देवस्याक्षरभावना

Transliteration

pravartate mayyajastramādyā cākṣarabhāvanā / dvitīyā brahmaṇaḥ proktā devasyākṣarabhāvanā

Translation

The first contemplation on the Imperishable proceeds in Me without interruption. The second, declared to belong to Brahman, is also taught as the contemplation on the Imperishable of the Lord.

Word by Word

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds, operates
• प्रवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मयि: in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अजस्त्रम्: unceasingly
• अजस्त्रम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अजस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• आद्या: the first
• आद्या: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अक्षरभावना: imperishable contemplation/power
• अक्षरभावना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर-भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष

• द्वितीया: the second
• द्वितीया: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā/Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रोक्ता: is said, is declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (verbal predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण/विधेय

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अक्षरभावना: imperishable contemplation/power
• अक्षरभावना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर-भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on Akshara-bhavana (Brahman/Ishvara contemplation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Akshara (Imperishable)
• Brahman
• Deva (Ishvara/Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Imperishable (Akṣara) as a single contemplative reality: whether approached as “Brahman” or as “the Lord (Deva/Iśvara),” the meditation culminates in the same unceasing awareness of the imperishable ground.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights akṣara-bhāvanā—steady, uninterrupted contemplation on the Imperishable—framed as a disciplined inner cultivation (bhāvanā) that can be practiced through either Brahman-oriented or Iśvara-oriented focus, aligning with Kurma Purana’s yoga-teaching style.

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

By equating Brahman-contemplation with the Lord’s Akṣara-contemplation, the verse supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the supreme imperishable reality is one, expressed through Iśvara-language that can harmonize Shaiva and Vaishnava devotion.