Shloka 26
Genealogies from Purūravas to the Haihayas; Jayadhvaja’s Vaiṣṇava Resolve, Sage-Adjudication, and the Slaying of Videha
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी च स्वयंभुवः / तिस्त्रस्तु मूर्तयः प्रोक्ताः सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तहेतवः
sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ca svayaṃbhuvaḥ / tistrastu mūrtayaḥ proktāḥ sṛṣṭisthityantahetavaḥ
Svayaṃbhu (the Self-born Lord) is said to have three forms—sāttvika, rājasika, and tāmasika—declared as the causes of creation, maintenance, and dissolution.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (contextual doctrinal exposition in Purva-bhaga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents the Supreme as Svayaṃbhu who remains one, yet appears through three guṇic modes; the Self is not limited by the modes, but uses them as functional principles for cosmic processes.
While not prescribing a technique directly, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s yogic logic: cultivate sāttvika clarity (through discipline, mantra, devotion, and restraint) to align the mind with the sustaining and illuminating aspect of the Divine, transcending rajas and tamas.
By grounding cosmic functions in guṇic manifestations of the one Lord, it fits the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same Supreme can be understood through different divine names and functional aspects without contradiction—unity of principle, diversity of forms.