Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya

Devanagari script

मेरुरुल्बमभूत् तस्य जरायुश्चापि पर्वताः / गर्भोदकं समुद्राश्च तस्यासन् परमात्मनः

Transliteration

merurulbamabhūt tasya jarāyuścāpi parvatāḥ / garbhodakaṃ samudrāśca tasyāsan paramātmanaḥ

Translation

ആ പരമാത്മാവിന് മേരു ഗർഭകോശം (ഉല്ബ) ആയി; പർവതങ്ങൾ ആവരണഝില്ലകൾ (ജരായു) ആയി; സമുദ്രങ്ങൾ അവന്റെ ഗർഭോദകം—ഗർഭജലം—ആയി।

Word by Word

• मेरुः: Meru
• मेरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• उल्बम्: the outer membrane/covering (of an embryo)
• उल्बम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अत्र प्रथमा (predicate nominative)

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकारः (Aorist/Past), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धे

• जरायुः: the placenta/amnion
• जरायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (particle: also/even)

• पर्वताः: mountains
• पर्वताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• गर्भोदकम्: the waters within the womb
• गर्भोदकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ + उदक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अत्र प्रथमा (predicate nominative); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गर्भस्य उदकम्)

• समुद्राः: oceans
• समुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (परमः आत्मा)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing creation; traditionally Sūta to the sages, within the Kurma Purana’s cosmology section)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Meru
• Parvatas (mountains)
• Samudras (oceans)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Paramātman as the ground of the cosmos, where even the world’s geography functions like parts of a single living “cosmic body,” implying an immanent Supreme that pervades creation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; its yogic value is contemplative—supporting meditation on the universe as pervaded by the Paramātman, a foundation for later Kurma Purana teachings on devotion, discipline, and Pāśupata-oriented inner absorption.

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

By centering everything in the single Paramātman, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the Supreme reality spoken of can be approached through both Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms without contradiction.