Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

अन्तकाले स्वयं देवः सर्वात्मा परमेश्वरः / तमोगुणं समाश्रित्य रुद्रः संहरते जगत्

Transliteration

antakāle svayaṃ devaḥ sarvātmā parameśvaraḥ / tamoguṇaṃ samāśritya rudraḥ saṃharate jagat

Translation

At the time of dissolution, the very Lord—Supreme Ruler and the Self of all—assuming the mode of tamas, becomes Rudra and withdraws the universe.

Word by Word

• अन्तकाले: at the end-time
• अन्तकाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तकाल (प्रातिपदिक; अन्त+काल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अन्तस्य कालः)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः-प्रत्ययार्थ (by himself)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वात्मा: the soul of all
• सर्वात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व+आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य आत्मा)

• परमेश्वरः: the supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; परम+ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमः ईश्वरः)

• तमोगुणम्: the tamas quality
• तमोगुणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमोगुण (प्रातिपदिक; तमस्+गुण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तमसः गुणः)

• समाश्रित्य: having resorted to
• समाश्रित्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+आश्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having fully resorted to)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संहरते: withdraws/destroys
• संहरते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator/Teacher voice within the Purāṇic discourse (doctrinal exposition on the Lord’s guṇa-based cosmic functions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parameśvara
• Rudra
• Tamo-guṇa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Lord as sarvātmā—the indwelling Self of all—who remains one reality while manifesting different cosmic roles, including dissolution.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a Yogic insight central to Purāṇic Yoga: contemplate the guṇas as functional powers of Īśvara and cultivate vairāgya (detachment) by seeing creation and dissolution as divine processes rather than personal loss.

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

It presents Rudra as a form/function assumed by the Supreme Lord, expressing a non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva (Rudra) represents the Lord’s saṃhāra-śakti rather than a separate ultimate.