Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 49

Naimittika-pralaya and the Theology of Kāla: Seven Suns, Saṃvartaka Fire, Flood, and Varāha Kalpa

सात्त्विकेष्वथ कल्पेषु माहात्म्यमधिकं हरेः / तामसेषु हरस्योक्तं राजसेषु प्रजापतेः

sāttvikeṣvatha kalpeṣu māhātmyamadhikaṃ hareḥ / tāmaseṣu harasyoktaṃ rājaseṣu prajāpateḥ

Dans les kalpas sāttvika, la gloire la plus grande est celle de Hari (Viṣṇu). Dans les kalpas tāmasa, il est déclaré qu’elle est celle de Hara (Śiva). Et dans les kalpas rājasa, elle est celle de Prajāpati (Brahmā).

सात्त्विकेषुin sāttvika (pure)
सात्त्विकेषु:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of कल्पेषु)
अथthen / now
अथ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (sequencer/then)
कल्पेषुin the kalpas
कल्पेषु:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन
माहात्म्यम्greatness / glory
माहात्म्यम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमाहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (विधेय/subject complement)
अधिकम्greater
अधिकम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of माहात्म्यम्)
हरेःof Hari (Viṣṇu)
हरेः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
तामसेषुin tāmasa (dark)
तामसेषु:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootतामस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of कल्पेषु—elliptic)
हरस्यof Hara (Śiva)
हरस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootहर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
उक्तम्is said
उक्तम्:
Kriya (क्रिया-भाव/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootवच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)
राजसेषुin rājasa (active)
राजसेषु:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootराजस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of कल्पेषु—elliptic)
प्रजापतेःof Prajāpati (Brahmā)
प्रजापतेः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Sūta (narrator) describing Purāṇic doctrinal classification of kalpas by guṇa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

H
Hari (Vishnu)
H
Hara (Shiva)
P
Prajapati (Brahma)
K
Kalpa
S
Sattva
R
Rajas
T
Tamas

FAQs

It implies a single supreme reality expressed through different divine functions: preservation (Hari), dissolution/transformative power (Hara), and creation (Prajāpati), whose prominence varies with the guṇa-character of a kalpa.

No specific practice is taught directly; the verse provides a doctrinal frame used in Kurma Purana’s yoga-theology—guiding devotees to contemplate Īśvara’s one power appearing as different deities according to cosmic conditions (guṇa and kalpa).

It presents a synthesis: Hari and Hara are not rivals but alternate emphases within different guṇa-dominated cosmic cycles, supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaishnava unity.