Shloka 23

Cosmic Night, Nārāyaṇa as Brahmā, and the Varāha Raising of the Earth

Devanagari script

ततः संस्थानमानीय पृथिवीं पृथिवीपतिः / मुमोच रूपं मनसा धारयित्वा प्रिजापतिः

Transliteration

tataḥ saṃsthānamānīya pṛthivīṃ pṛthivīpatiḥ / mumoca rūpaṃ manasā dhārayitvā prijāpatiḥ

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ഭൂമിപതി പ്രജാപതി ഭൂമിയെ യഥോചിതമായ ക്രമത്തിലാക്കി, അതിന്റെ രൂപം മനസ്സിൽ ധരിച്ചു, അവളെ സ്ഥിരസ്ഥിതിയിൽ സ്ഥാപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), काल/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• संस्थानम्: proper form/arrangement
• संस्थानम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• आनीय: having brought
• आनीय: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/absolutive), उपसर्ग ‘आ-’; अव्ययभाव (indeclinable gerund)

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• पृथिवीपतिः: lord of the earth
• पृथिवीपतिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘पृथिव्याः पति’

• मुमोच: released/let go
• मुमोच: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• मनसा: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• धारयित्वा: having held/sustained
• धारयित्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/absolutive), causative sense possible by context; अव्ययभाव

• प्रजापतिः: Prajapati (lord of creatures)
• प्रजापतिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘प्रजानां पति’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta/authorial voice within the Kurma Purana’s cosmogonic account)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthivī (Earth)
• Prajāpati

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By highlighting that form and stability are upheld through “manasā dhārayitvā” (mental sustenance), the verse implies a higher ordering intelligence behind material manifestation—pointing to consciousness as the sustaining principle behind name-and-form.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The phrase “manasā dhārayitvā” echoes dhāraṇā (steadfast holding) in Yoga: the capacity of mind to sustain a form without wavering. In the Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual frame, this models disciplined inner steadiness that supports outer order (dharma).

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

While Shiva and Vishnu are not explicitly named here, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis treats cosmic stabilization as a function of the one Supreme Lord manifesting through different divine offices (e.g., Prajāpati/creator, sustainer). The verse fits that non-sectarian puranic logic of unified divine governance.