Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 82
Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching
सो ऽहं ग्रसामि सकलमधिष्ठाय तमोगुणम् / कालो भूत्वा न तमसा मामन्यो ऽभिभविष्यति
so 'haṃ grasāmi sakalamadhiṣṭhāya tamoguṇam / kālo bhūtvā na tamasā māmanyo 'bhibhaviṣyati
Je dévore l’univers tout entier, présidant à la qualité de tamas. Étant devenu le Temps lui-même, nul ne peut Me vaincre par l’obscurité (tamas).
Lord Kurma (Vishnu as Ishvara, teaching the Ishvara Gita)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents the Supreme as Ishvara who assumes cosmic functions—especially Time (kāla) and dissolution—while remaining unassailable; even tamas, which overpowers beings, cannot overpower the Lord who governs it.
The verse supports guṇa-transcending contemplation: the yogin meditates on Ishvara as the inner ruler (adhiṣṭhātṛ) of tamas and as kāla, cultivating detachment from inertia, fear, and delusion—key to Pashupata-style mastery over the guṇas.
By describing the Supreme in universal Shaiva-Ishvara terms (Lord of Time, controller of guṇas) while spoken by Kurma (Vishnu), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the one Ishvara is praised through both Shaiva and Vaishnava theological language.