Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53
Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara
Hari–Hara Samanvaya
तं दृष्ट्वा देवमीशानं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः / मोहितो माययात्यर्थं पीतवाससमब्वीत्
taṃ dṛṣṭvā devamīśānaṃ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ / mohito māyayātyarthaṃ pītavāsasamabvīt
À la vue de ce Seigneur Īśāna, Brahmā, l’aïeul des mondes, fut entièrement troublé par la māyā du Seigneur; puis il s’adressa à Celui qui portait des vêtements jaunes.
Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing Brahmā’s reaction before addressing the Lord in pītāmbara)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It implies the Supreme Lord (Īśāna) is beyond even Brahmā, whose intellect can be veiled by māyā; the highest Self is the sovereign reality that controls māyā rather than being controlled by it.
The verse does not prescribe a technique directly, but it supports a core yogic principle: discernment (viveka) against māyā’s delusion, a prerequisite for īśvara-bhakti and higher contemplative stability taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana’s yoga materials.
By calling the Lord “Īśāna” while also describing Him as “pītavāsas” (a strong Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa marker), the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where the one Supreme is praised through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava identifiers.