Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28
Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time
निशम्य भगवान् वाक्यं शङ्करो धर्मवाहनः / स्वात्मना सद्शान् रुद्रान् ससर्ज मनसा शिवः / कपर्दिनो निरातङ्कांस्त्रिनेत्रान् नीललोहितान्
niśamya bhagavān vākyaṃ śaṅkaro dharmavāhanaḥ / svātmanā sadśān rudrān sasarja manasā śivaḥ / kapardino nirātaṅkāṃstrinetrān nīlalohitān
ആ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട് ധർമ്മവാഹനനായ ഭഗവാൻ ശങ്കരൻ—ശിവൻ, തന്റെ ആത്മശക്തിയാൽ മനസ്സിൽ തന്നേ തനിക്കു സമാനമായ രുദ്രന്മാരെ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു: ജടാധരർ, നിർഭയർ, ത്രിനേത്രർ, നീല-ലോഹിത വർണ്ണമുള്ളവർ।
Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta/primary narrator recounting events)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
By stating that Śiva creates “by his own Self” and “by mind alone,” the verse presents divine manifestation as arising from inner consciousness-power (ātma-śakti), not from external instruments—an Upaniṣadic-style view of creation through will (saṅkalpa).
While not prescribing a technique directly, the emphasis on mental creation (manasā) points to mastery of mind and will—key themes later systematized in Pāśupata-oriented discipline: inward concentration, sovereignty over mental modifications, and aligning intention with Dharma.
In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, divine functions manifest through complementary forms: this verse foregrounds Śiva’s emanative power while remaining compatible with the broader Purāṇic framework where the Supreme is one reality appearing as Śiva and Viṣṇu according to cosmic role.