Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

अग्रे हिरण्यगर्भः स प्रादुर्भूतः सनातनः / आदित्वादादिदेवो ऽसौ अजातत्वादजः स्मृतः

Transliteration

agre hiraṇyagarbhaḥ sa prādurbhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ / āditvādādidevo 'sau ajātatvādajaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Al comienzo se manifestó aquel eterno Hiraṇyagarbha. Por ser el primero, se le llama Ādideva, el Dios Primordial; y por ser no nacido, se le recuerda como Aja, “el No Nacido”.

Word by Word

• अग्रे: in the beginning
• अग्रे: Kāla (काल/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (locative used adverbially: at first)

• हिरण्यगर्भः: Hiraṇyagarbha
• हिरण्यगर्भः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य-गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हिरण्यस्य गर्भः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रादुर्भूतः: manifested/appeared
• प्रादुर्भूतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रादुस्+भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग/अव्ययपूर्वकः प्रादुस्-

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• आदित्वात्: because of being the first
• आदित्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि-त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; तद्धित-प्रत्ययः त्व (state/ness)

• आदिदेवः: the primordial god
• आदिदेवः: Kriyā-viśeṣya (प्रथमा/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आदिः देवः)

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अजातत्वात्: because of being unborn
• अजातत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-जात-त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (अजात) + त्व-प्रत्यय

• अजः: the Unborn
• अजः: Kriyā-viśeṣya (प्रथमा/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is known/remembered as
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (is remembered/called)

Speaker

Narratorial Purāṇic voice (Sūta/Vyāsa tradition) describing creation within the Kurma Purana’s cosmogony

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyagarbha
• Ādideva
• Aja (the Unborn)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the first manifest principle “eternal” and “unborn,” the verse points to a reality that is not produced by prior causes—an Atman/Brahman-like ground that precedes temporal creation even when it appears as the first cosmic manifestation (Hiraṇyagarbha).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; its yogic value is contemplative: meditation on the “Unborn” (Aja) and the primordial source (Hiraṇyagarbha) supports īśvara-dhyāna—steadying the mind on the beginningless principle that underlies all arising.

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

It frames the ultimate as the unborn, primeval divinity behind creation—language that the Kurma Purana often allows to be read through a synthesis lens, where the supreme source can be understood in a non-sectarian way (compatible with both Shaiva and Vaishnava theological readings).