Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

संस्थितेष्वथ देवेषु ब्रह्मविष्णुपिनाकिषु / गुणैरशेषैः पृथिवीविलयं याति वारिषु

Transliteration

saṃsthiteṣvatha deveṣu brahmaviṣṇupinākiṣu / guṇairaśeṣaiḥ pṛthivīvilayaṃ yāti vāriṣu

Translation

Then, when the deities—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva the Pināka-bearer—withdraw into their settled state, the earth, together with all its manifest qualities, passes into dissolution within the cosmic waters.

Word by Word

• संस्थितेषु: when (they) are established/remaining
• संस्थितेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), बहुवचन, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; अर्थः ‘स्थितेषु’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse connective (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• देवेषु: among the gods
• देवेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-पिनाकिषु: among Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and the Pināka-bearer (Śiva)
• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-पिनाकिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च पिनाकी च)

• गुणैः: by/with qualities
• गुणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• अशेषैः: without remainder, all
• अशेषैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् गुणैः

• पृथिवी-विलयम्: the dissolution of the earth
• पृथिवी-विलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक) + विलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पृथिव्याः विलयः)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वारिषु: into the waters
• वारिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing pralaya in the Kurma Purana’s cosmological teaching

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva (Pinakin)
• Pralaya
• Cosmic Waters (Vāri)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By showing even Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva as “withdrawn” during dissolution, the verse points beyond changing cosmic functions to an underlying, unchanging reality in which all states of manifestation subside.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not prescribing a technique directly, the verse supports pralaya-anusandhāna (contemplation of dissolution): meditating on the impermanence of guṇas and elements to cultivate dispassion (vairāgya) and inward withdrawal (pratyāhāra), central to Purāṇic yoga teachings.

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

It places Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva together within the same cosmic process of withdrawal, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: their roles differ in manifestation, yet they participate in one integrated order that culminates in dissolution.