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Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

सर्वज्ञाः शान्तरजसो नित्यं मुदितमानसाः / एतैरावरणैरण्डं सप्तभिः प्राकृतैर्वृतम्

sarvajñāḥ śāntarajaso nityaṃ muditamānasāḥ / etairāvaraṇairaṇḍaṃ saptabhiḥ prākṛtairvṛtam

Ils sont omniscients, le tumulte du rajas apaisé, et l’esprit toujours serein et joyeux. Ainsi les sages décrivent-ils l’Œuf cosmique (aṇḍa) comme enfermé par ces sept enveloppes primordiales, issues de la prakṛti.

sarva-jñāḥall-knowing
sarva-jñāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootsarva + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya: sarve jñāḥ (all-knowing)
śānta-rajasāḥwith rajas stilled
śānta-rajasāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśānta + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: śāntaṃ rajaḥ yeṣām (whose rajas is calmed)
nityamalways
nityam:
Kāla (काल/Time adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnitya (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
FormAvyaya (adverbial accusative); kāla-avyaya (always)
mudita-mānasāḥjoyful-minded
mudita-mānasāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmudita + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: muditaṃ mānasaṃ yeṣām (whose minds are joyful)
etaiḥby these
etaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeAdjective
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga (Masc/Neut), Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)
āvaraṇaiḥby coverings/envelopes
āvaraṇaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootāvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)
aṇḍamthe cosmic egg
aṇḍam:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc, 1st/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); here with vṛtam → Dvitīyā (Acc)
saptabhiḥwith seven
saptabhiḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
FormTṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); numeral adjective
prākṛtaiḥmaterial/prakṛtic
prākṛtaiḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootprākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga (Masc/Neut), Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)
vṛtamcovered/enclosed
vṛtam:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Predicate)
TypeAdjective
Root√vṛ (वृञ्/धातु) + kta (कृत्)
FormKta-participle; Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana; predicate agreeing with aṇḍam

Sūta (narrator) describing the cosmological teaching as transmitted by sages

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

B
Brahmāṇḍa
P
Prakṛti
A
Avaraṇa (seven coverings)

FAQs

By highlighting the pacification of rajas and the steady, joyful mind of the knowers, the verse implies that true knowledge aligns with inner stillness—an Atman-centered vision that is not shaken by material agitation, even while describing the material cosmos.

The key yogic marker is śānta-rajas—stilling the rajasic drive through discipline, contemplation, and inward absorption; this supports the Kurma Purana’s broader emphasis on yogic equanimity as the basis for right knowledge of tattvas (principles) like prakṛti and the cosmic enclosures.

Though not naming them directly, the verse reflects the Purana’s synthesis: cosmology is taught alongside yogic inner purification, a shared Shaiva-Vaishnava framework where realization (stilling rajas) is valued above sectarian difference.