Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

भूमिरापो ऽनलो वायुर्व्योमाहङ्कार एव च / यस्य रूपं नमस्यामि भवन्तं ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्

Transliteration

bhūmirāpo 'nalo vāyurvyomāhaṅkāra eva ca / yasya rūpaṃ namasyāmi bhavantaṃ brahmasaṃjñitam

Translation

ഭൂമി, ജലം, അഗ്നി, വായു, ആകാശം, അഹങ്കാരം—ഇവയാണ് അവന്റെ രൂപം. ‘ബ്രഹ്മം’ എന്നു അറിയപ്പെടുന്ന നിനക്കു ഞാൻ നമസ്കരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• भूमिः: earth
• भूमिः: Samānādhikaraṇa/Enumeration (समानााधिकरण/उद्देश्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Samānādhikaraṇa/Enumeration (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अनलः: fire
• अनलः: Samānādhikaraṇa/Enumeration (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Samānādhikaraṇa/Enumeration (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• व्योम: sky; ether
• व्योम: Samānādhikaraṇa/Enumeration (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अहङ्कारः: ego-principle
• अहङ्कारः: Samānādhikaraṇa/Enumeration (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), पुं/नपुंसक (Masc./Neut.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• नमस्यामि: I bow to; I worship
• नमस्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; धातु: नमस्/नम् (to bow)

• भवन्तम्: you (honored one)
• भवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/सत्कारार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific)

• ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्: designated as Brahman
• ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक; संज्ञित = √ज्ञा-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) भवन्तम्/रूपम् (contextual)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Bhumi
• Apas
• Agni
• Vayu
• Vyoma
• Ahankara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies Brahman as the underlying reality whose manifestation appears as the elemental cosmos and even the ego-principle, implying the Self is not limited to a body but pervades and transcends all tattvas.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports tattva-dhyana: contemplative absorption where the practitioner recognizes the elements (bhūta) and ahaṅkāra as appearances of the one Brahman, aiding dis-identification from ego and stabilization of nondual awareness.

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

By emphasizing Brahman as the single reality beyond names and forms, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme is one, honored through Shaiva and Vaishnava languages without contradiction.