Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya

Devanagari script

निशान्ते प्रतिबुद्धो ऽसौ जगदादिरनादिमान् / सर्वभूतमयो ऽव्यक्तो ह्यन्तर्यामीश्वरः परः

Transliteration

niśānte pratibuddho 'sau jagadādiranādimān / sarvabhūtamayo 'vyakto hyantaryāmīśvaraḥ paraḥ

Translation

At the end of the night, He awakens—the primordial source of the universe, beginningless. He is the essence of all beings, unmanifest, and indeed the Supreme Lord who dwells within as the Inner Ruler (Antaryāmin).

Word by Word

• niśā-ante: at the end of the night
• niśā-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निशायाः अन्ते)

• pratibuddhaḥ: awakened
• pratibuddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√budh (बुध् धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (awakened)

• asau: that one (he)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• jagat-ādiḥ: the origin of the world
• jagat-ādiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (जगतः आदिः)

• anādimān: beginningless
• anādimān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anādi + mat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-अन्त (possessing)

• sarva-bhūta-mayaḥ: consisting of all beings
• sarva-bhūta-mayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + bhūta + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां भूतानां मयः = consisting of all beings)

• avyaktaḥ: unmanifest
• avyaktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + vyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; न-प्रत्ययेन निषेधः

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• antaryāmī-īśvaraḥ: the Lord who is the inner ruler
• antaryāmī-īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaryāmin + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अन्तर्यामी एव ईश्वरः)

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator/Sūta (Purāṇic narration describing the Supreme Lord)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)
• Antaryamin (Inner Ruler)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as beginningless, unmanifest, and present within all beings as the Antaryāmin—indicating the Self is not merely external creator but the indwelling ruler and essence of all life.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to Antaryāmin-upāsanā: inward contemplation of Īśvara as the indwelling controller. In Kurma Purana-style sādhanā, this supports meditative withdrawal (pratyāhāra) and steady dhyāna on the unmanifest Lord pervading all beings.

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

By emphasizing one Supreme Īśvara who is unmanifest yet immanent as Antaryāmin, it aligns with the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest reality can be praised as Hari or Hara without contradiction, since the indwelling Lord is one.