Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 36

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

यो ऽग्निः संवर्तको नित्यं वडवारूपसंस्थितः / पिबत्यखिलमम्भोधिमीश्वरस्य नियोगतः

Transliteration

yo 'gniḥ saṃvartako nityaṃ vaḍavārūpasaṃsthitaḥ / pibatyakhilamambhodhimīśvarasya niyogataḥ

Translation

That fire which is ever the saṃvartaka (world-dissolving flame), abiding in the form of the Vaḍavā (the submarine mare-fire), drinks up the entire ocean by the command of Īśvara (the Supreme Lord).

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• संवर्तकः: the dissolver (at cosmic dissolution)
• संवर्तकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (destroyer at dissolution)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kāla (काल/Time; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative)

• वडवा-रूप-संस्थितः: situated in the form of a mare (Vaḍavā)
• वडवा-रूप-संस्थितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वडवा (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘संस्थित’ (स्थितः); सप्तमी/तत्पुरुष-भावः: ‘वडवारूपे संस्थितः’ (situated in mare-form)

• पिबति: drinks
• पिबति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अखिलम्: entire/all
• अखिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अम्भोधिम्: ocean
• अम्भोधिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भोधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ईश्वरस्य: of the Lord
• ईश्वरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• नियोगतः: by (his) command
• नियोगतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी (ablative of cause): ‘नियोगात्’

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing cosmological doctrine to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara
• Saṃvartaka Agni
• Vaḍavā (submarine fire)
• Ambhodhi (ocean)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Īśvara as the sovereign regulator whose command governs even cosmic dissolution, implying a supreme, ordering consciousness behind elemental forces rather than an accidental or purely mechanical universe.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct technique is taught in this verse; its yogic implication is īśvara-prāṇidhāna—contemplating the Lord’s governance (ājñā/niyoga) over pralayic forces to cultivate surrender, steadiness, and discernment about impermanence.

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

By using the inclusive title Īśvara as the ultimate commander of dissolution, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the supreme Lord (whether addressed through Shaiva or Vaishnava idiom) is one authority directing cosmic processes.