Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

तत्र योगबलेनासौ प्रविश्य कनकाण्डजः / उज्जहारात्मनो रूपं पुष्कराच्चतुराननः

Transliteration

tatra yogabalenāsau praviśya kanakāṇḍajaḥ / ujjahārātmano rūpaṃ puṣkarāccaturānanaḥ

Translation

そこで彼はヨーガの力によって入り、金色の宇宙卵より生まれた四面のブラフマーは、蓮華から自らの姿を引き出した。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (locative adverb)

• योगबलेन: by the power of yoga
• योगबलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग-बल (प्रातिपदिक; योग + बल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (योगस्य बलम्)

• असौ: he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having entered’

• कनकाण्डजः: born from the golden egg (Hiraṇyagarbha)
• कनकाण्डजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक-अण्ड-ज (प्रातिपदिक; कनक + अण्ड + ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कनकस्य अण्डम्; तस्मात् जातः)

• उज्जहार: drew out/raised
• उज्जहार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of himself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• पुष्करात्: from the lotus
• पुष्करात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• चतुराननः: the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• चतुराननः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्-आनन (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + आनन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (चत्वारि आननानि यस्य)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) relating the cosmogonic account as received in the Purāṇic transmission

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Hiranyagarbha (Golden Egg)
• Lotus (Puṣkara)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays manifestation as arising through yogic potency: Brahmā “brings forth” a form, implying that form is a manifested expression while the deeper principle (self/inner power) precedes and enables embodiment.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yoga-bala (yogic power)—the concentrated spiritual capacity by which entry into subtle states and subsequent manifestation becomes possible, aligning with Purāṇic yoga as mastery over mind and subtle elements rather than mere physical discipline.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis: creation proceeds through yogic śakti within the cosmic order overseen by the Supreme, a framework later harmonized in the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava unity teachings.