Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

नावाभ्यां विद्यते ह्यन्यो लोकानां परमेश्वरः / एका मूर्तिर्द्विधा भिन्ना नारायणपितामहौ

Transliteration

nāvābhyāṃ vidyate hyanyo lokānāṃ parameśvaraḥ / ekā mūrtirdvidhā bhinnā nārāyaṇapitāmahau

Translation

There is no other Supreme Lord of the worlds apart from these two. One single divine reality appears divided into two forms—Nārāyaṇa and Pitāmaha (Brahmā).

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• आवाभ्याम्: by us two / through us both
• आवाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), द्विवचन

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/सत्तायाम् (exists)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• अन्यः: another (one)
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परम-ईश्वरः: supreme lord
• परम-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः)

• एका: one
• एका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (mūrtiḥ)

• मूर्तिः: form, embodiment
• मूर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्विधा: in two (ways)
• द्विधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: in two ways)

• भिन्ना: divided
• भिन्ना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (mūrtiḥ) separated/divided

• नारायण-पितामहौ: Narayana and Pitamaha (Brahma)
• नारायण-पितामहौ: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व (नारायणश्च पितामहश्च)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in Purana-style instruction

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara
• Narayana
• Pitamaha (Brahma)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents a single supreme reality (Parameśvara) that appears as distinct divine persons for cosmic functions, implying unity behind apparent multiplicity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative non-dual meditation (ekatva-bhāvanā): focusing on one Supreme principle that manifests in diverse forms—an idea later aligned with Kurma Purana’s Yoga-shastra and Pāśupata-oriented devotion.

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

Though naming Nārāyaṇa and Brahmā explicitly, it advances the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis: one Parameśvara underlies all deities, a framework often used to harmonize Shaiva and Vaishnava theologies.