Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

कदाचित् तस्य सुप्तस्य लीलार्थं दिव्यमद्भुतम् / त्रैलोक्यसारं विमलं नाभ्यां पङ्कजमुद्वभौ

Transliteration

kadācit tasya suptasya līlārthaṃ divyamadbhutam / trailokyasāraṃ vimalaṃ nābhyāṃ paṅkajamudvabhau

Translation

Un jour, tandis qu’Il reposait dans le sommeil yogique, pour le jeu divin et merveilleux, un lotus immaculé surgit de son nombril—étonnant et céleste—l’essence même des trois mondes.

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: once, at some time
• कदाचित्: काल (कालाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• सुप्तस्य: of (him) sleeping
• सुप्तस्य: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप् (धातु) → सुप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• लीला-अर्थम्: for the sake of play
• लीला-अर्थम्: प्रयोजन (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—लीलायाः अर्थम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• दिव्य-अद्भुतम्: divine and wondrous
• दिव्य-अद्भुतम्: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—दिव्यं च अद्भुतं च (कर्मधारय/समाहार)

• त्रैलोक्य-सारम्: the essence of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य-सारम्: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि+लोक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—त्रैलोक्यस्य सारम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विमलम्: pure, spotless
• विमलम्: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• नाभ्याम्: from (his) navel
• नाभ्याम्: अपादान (अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान) एकवचन (वैकल्पिकं: तृतीया द्विवचनरूपसदृशम्); अर्थतः ‘from the navel’

• पङ्कजम्: lotus
• पङ्कजम्: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• उद्वभौ: arose, sprang forth
• उद्वभौ: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the cosmogonic episode within the Kurma Purana narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa (Vishnu)
• Lotus (Padma)
• Trailokya (three worlds)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It depicts the Supreme (here Nārāyaṇa) as self-sufficient and transcendent—creation arises effortlessly from him during yogic repose, implying that the cosmos proceeds from the Self without diminishing its purity (vimala).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key idea is yoga-nidrā (yogic sleep): a state of inward absorption where the Lord remains established in sovereign awareness, and yet the power of manifestation operates—an archetype later mirrored in disciplined meditative stillness in Yoga-śāstra traditions.

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

By framing creation as a divine līlā grounded in purity and yogic sovereignty, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis: the same supreme reality is praised through different theological lenses (Vaiṣṇava Nārāyaṇa and Śaiva Īśvara), without contradiction in ultimate principle.