Shloka 102

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

प्रपन्ना ये जगद्बीजं ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम् / तेषां ललाटे तिलकं धारणीयं तु सर्वदा

Transliteration

prapannā ye jagadbījaṃ brahmāṇaṃ parameṣṭhinam / teṣāṃ lalāṭe tilakaṃ dhāraṇīyaṃ tu sarvadā

Translation

Ceux qui se sont réfugiés en Brahmā—Semence du monde, Seigneur suprême (Parameṣṭhin)—doivent porter toujours sur le front la marque de tilaka.

Word by Word

• प्रपन्नाः: having taken refuge
• प्रपन्नाः: कर्ता (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + पद् (धातु) → प्रपन्न (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त/PPP); प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग — ये इति कर्तृविशेषणम्

• ये: those who
• ये: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• जगत्-बीजम्: the seed of the world
• जगत्-बीजम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jagataḥ bījam = seed of the world); द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: कर्म (Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• परमेष्ठिनम्: the Supreme Lord (epithet of Brahmā)
• परमेष्ठिनम्: कर्म (Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग — ब्रह्माणम् इति विशेष्यस्य उपाधि

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• ललाटे: on the forehead
• ललाटे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• तिलकम्: tilaka mark
• तिलकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• धारणीयम्: to be worn/should be worn
• धारणीयम्: विधेय (Predicative/obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + अनीयर् → धारणीय (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (अनीयर्-प्रत्यय, gerundive/ought to be worn); प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग — तिलकम् इति विशेष्यस्य विधेयविशेषणम्

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: अव्यय (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Narratorial injunction within the Purva-bhaga (instructional voice of the text, in the flow of dharma-teaching).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Parameṣṭhin
• Jagadbīja

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising the “world-seed” (jagadbīja) as the highest principle worthy of refuge, the verse implies an ultimate source behind creation; the outer tilaka is presented as a sign of inward orientation to that supreme ground.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes sādhana through niyama-like observance: constant remembrance and identity as a surrendered devotee (prapatti), expressed through tilaka as an external discipline supporting inner steadiness and devotion.

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

While the verse names Brahmā/Parameṣṭhin as the refuge, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats such supreme epithets as pointing to the one highest reality honored across sectarian forms—supporting a unified Shaiva–Vaishnava devotional ethos.