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Shloka 21

Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time

तेष्वेवं निरपेक्षेषु लोकसृष्टौ प्रजापतिः / मुमोह मायया सद्यो मायिनः परमेष्ठिनः

teṣvevaṃ nirapekṣeṣu lokasṛṣṭau prajāpatiḥ / mumoha māyayā sadyo māyinaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

Ketika penciptaan dunia-dunia itu berlangsung dengan sendirinya tanpa bergantung pada apa pun, Prajāpati seketika terpesona oleh Māyā, daya ilusi milik Parameṣṭhin, Tuhan Tertinggi sang Mahā-māyāvin.

teṣuin/among those
teṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)
evamthus
evam:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootevam (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)
nirapekṣeṣuindifferent; without expectation
nirapekṣeṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnirapekṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; adjective qualifying teṣu
loka-sṛṣṭauin the creation of the world
loka-sṛṣṭau:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootloka (प्रातिपदिक) + sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: lokasya sṛṣṭiḥ
prajāpatiḥPrajāpati
prajāpatiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
mumohabecame deluded
mumoha:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootmuh (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada
māyayāby illusion
māyayā:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootmāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular
sadyaḥimmediately
sadyaḥ:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsadyaḥ (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)
māyinaḥof the possessor of māyā
māyinaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootmāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
parameṣṭhinaḥof the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
parameṣṭhinaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootparameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; in apposition to māyinaḥ

Purana narrator (Vyasa/Suta tradition) describing cosmic creation in the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

P
Prajapati
M
Maya
P
Parameshthin

FAQs

It implies that delusion arises from Māyā, a power belonging to the Supreme Lord; the Self remains transcendent, while even cosmic agents like Prajāpati can be veiled when identification with the projection (sṛṣṭi) occurs.

The verse points to the Yogic necessity of viveka (discernment) to overcome moha (bewilderment) caused by Māyā—an idea aligned with Kurma Purana teachings where knowledge and disciplined practice remove the veil that confuses the seer with the seen.

By attributing Māyā to the supreme Parameṣṭhin (the highest Lord), it supports the Purana’s non-sectarian stance: the ultimate divine principle—spoken of in Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms—governs creation and the power that veils it.