Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

जगद्योनिर्महाभूतं परं ब्रह्म सनातनम् / विग्रहः सर्वभूतानामात्मनाधिष्ठितं महत्

Transliteration

jagadyonirmahābhūtaṃ paraṃ brahma sanātanam / vigrahaḥ sarvabhūtānāmātmanādhiṣṭhitaṃ mahat

Translation

Le Brahman suprême et éternel est le sein de l’univers—le Grand Être. Il est le fondement incarné de toutes les créatures, l’immense Réalité établie et soutenue par le Soi intérieur.

Word by Word

• जगद्योनिः: source/womb of the world
• जगद्योनिः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्-योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः योनि:)

• महाभूतम्: the great element / great being
• महाभूतम्: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महत् भूतम्

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (ब्रह्म)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: विधेय/विशेष्य (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (ब्रह्म)

• विग्रहः: embodiment, form
• विग्रहः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: सर्वाणि भूतानि

• आत्मना: by the self
• आत्मना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अधिष्ठितम्: presided over, governed
• अधिष्ठितम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि-स्था (धातु) → अधिष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (महत्)

• महत्: Mahat (the great principle)
• महत्: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सांख्ये 'महत्' तत्त्वम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Purva-bhaga discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Atman
• Mahat

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Self as the inner support (adhiṣṭhāna) of all beings—Brahman is not merely a creator outside the world, but the indwelling ground by which all existence is sustained.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to contemplative Yoga centered on recognizing the ātman as the inner presiding reality behind body, mind, and cosmos—an inward discernment that aligns with Purāṇic Yoga teaching (dhyāna on the Supreme as the support of all).

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

By grounding everything in the one eternal Brahman/Atman, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu are understood as expressions of the same supreme Reality that upholds all beings.