Shloka 8

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

आदिमध्यान्तनिर्मुक्तो मायातत्त्वप्रवर्तकः / क्षोभयामि च सर्गादौ प्रधानपुरुषावुभौ

Transliteration

ādimadhyāntanirmukto māyātattvapravartakaḥ / kṣobhayāmi ca sargādau pradhānapuruṣāvubhau

Translation

Affranchi du commencement, du milieu et de la fin, Je mets en marche le principe de Māyā; et dès l’aube de la création, J’ébranle à la fois Pradhāna (la Nature primordiale) et Puruṣa (la Conscience).

Word by Word

• आदि-मध्य-अन्त-निर्मुक्तः: free from beginning, middle, and end
• आदि-मध्य-अन्त-निर्मुक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्मुक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (आदि-मध्य-अन्तेभ्यः निर्मुक्तः) विशेषण (अहम्/सः इति)

• माया-तत्त्व-प्रवर्तकः: promoter/initiator of the principle of māyā
• माया-तत्त्व-प्रवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मायातत्त्वस्य प्रवर्तकः)

• क्षोभयामि: I agitate
• क्षोभयामि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षुभ् (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative ‘I agitate’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• सर्ग-आदौ: at the beginning of creation
• सर्ग-आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (सर्गस्य आदौ = at the beginning of creation) अधिकरण

• प्रधान-पुरुषौ: Pradhāna and Puruṣa
• प्रधान-पुरुषौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (प्रधानश्च पुरुषश्च)

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (प्रधान-पुरुषौ इति)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching on creation and metaphysics

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Maya
• Pradhana
• Purusha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as timeless and partless—beyond beginning, middle, and end—yet capable of initiating māyā and thereby the entire process of manifestation without losing transcendence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a Yoga-shastra view where the yogin discriminates Puruṣa from Pradhāna (Sāṅkhya-Yoga viveka) and recognizes māyā as the operative power of Īśvara; this insight undergirds meditative detachment (vairāgya) and steady contemplation of the Lord as the inner controller.

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

By describing one supreme Īśvara who transcends time yet energizes māyā and creation, the Purana advances a unitive theology compatible with both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva readings—one Lord functioning as the cosmic cause beyond sectarian division.