Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11
Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya
ब्राह्मी रात्रिरियं प्रोक्ता अहः सृष्टिरुदाहृता / अहर्न विद्यते तस्य न रात्रिर्ह्युपचारतः
brāhmī rātririyaṃ proktā ahaḥ sṛṣṭirudāhṛtā / aharna vidyate tasya na rātrirhyupacārataḥ
ಇದು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನ ‘ರಾತ್ರಿ’ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದೆ; ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಕಾಲವನ್ನು ಅವನ ‘ದಿನ’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಪರಮ ತತ್ತ್ವಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಜವಾಗಿ ದಿನವೂ ಇಲ್ಲ, ರಾತ್ರಿ ಕೂಡ ಇಲ್ಲ—ಇವು ಕೇವಲ ಉಪಚಾರಮಾತ್ರ.
Sūta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic teaching on cosmic time; ultimately reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Supreme-Brahman standpoint
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It states that ‘day’ and ‘night’ apply only to Brahmā’s cosmic administration of creation and dissolution; the Supreme Self is beyond temporal opposites, and such terms are used only conventionally.
The verse points to a yogic insight central to Purāṇic Yoga: transcending dualities (dvandva) such as day/night and creation/dissolution by steady contemplation on the timeless Paramātman—an orientation consistent with Pāśupata-style detachment and inner absorption.
By emphasizing one timeless Supreme beyond all cosmic cycles, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu are understood as expressions of the same ultimate Reality that is untouched by ‘day’ and ‘night’.