Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन ब्रह्मणाहमुवाच ह / अहं कर्तास्मि लोकानां संहर्ता च पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

evamuktastadā tena brahmaṇāhamuvāca ha / ahaṃ kartāsmi lokānāṃ saṃhartā ca punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Ainsi interpellé alors par Brahmā, je répondis : «Je suis le créateur des mondes, et, encore et encore, j’en suis aussi le résorbeur (le destructeur).»

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• उक्तः: (having been) spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having been addressed’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed/for emphasis
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पदपूरण/स्मरणार्थक-निपात (expletive particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्ता: creator
• कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृ-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• संहर्ता: destroyer
• संहर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-हृ (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृ-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘destroyer/withdrawer’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (adverb of repetition)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as the Supreme Ishvara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Lokas (worlds)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Īśvara—the conscious Lord who repeatedly governs cosmic manifestation and dissolution, implying sovereignty over cyclical time (kalpa) rather than a merely local or limited deity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse itself is doctrinal rather than procedural: it establishes Īśvara as the object of contemplation for yoga—one whose śakti sustains creation and whose will brings saṃhāra—supporting Īśvara-dhyāna and surrender (īśvara-praṇidhāna) emphasized across Kurma Purana’s spiritual instruction.

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

By speaking in the voice of the Supreme Lord who controls creation and dissolution, the text supports a unitive (synthesizing) theology where the highest Īśvara can be understood through both Vaiṣṇava (Vishnu/Kūrma) and Śaiva (Īśvara as cosmic ruler) lenses rather than sectarian separation.