Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53
Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya
एको ऽपि सन्महादेवस्त्रिधासौ समवस्थितः / सर्गरक्षालयगुणैर्निर्गुणो ऽपि निरञ्जनः / एकधा स द्विधा चैव त्रिधा च बहुधा पुनः
eko 'pi sanmahādevastridhāsau samavasthitaḥ / sargarakṣālayaguṇairnirguṇo 'pi nirañjanaḥ / ekadhā sa dvidhā caiva tridhā ca bahudhā punaḥ
Bien qu’Il soit en vérité Un, ce Mahādeva de bon augure demeure ici d’une manière triple. Par les fonctions de création, de protection et de dissolution, Il paraît comme doté d’attributs ; pourtant Il demeure sans attributs et sans tache. Il est Un ; puis de nouveau Il devient deux, trois, et encore multiple.
Sūta (narrator) describing the Supreme Lord as Mahādeva in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis context
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents the Supreme as truly One and stainless (nirañjana), beyond guṇas (nirguṇa), yet appearing in multiple modes for cosmic functions—implying one Self that seems many through manifestation.
The verse supports contemplation on the nirguṇa Lord behind sṛṣṭi–rakṣā–laya: a yogin meditates on the One Reality as the inner ruler of all functions, not limited by the functions themselves—an orientation aligned with Pāśupata-style devotion and discrimination between appearance and essence.
By describing the Supreme as Mahādeva who is one yet manifests many for cosmic governance, it fits the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis where the highest Lord is a single reality, expressed through different divine names and roles rather than competing deities.