Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

त्वमेव सर्वभूतानामादिकर्ता नियोजितः / तथा कुरुष्व देवेश मया लोकपितामह

Transliteration

tvameva sarvabhūtānāmādikartā niyojitaḥ / tathā kuruṣva deveśa mayā lokapitāmaha

Translation

നീ തന്നെയാണ് സർവ്വഭൂതങ്ങളുടെ ആദികർത്താവ്; ഈ സൃഷ്ടികാര്യത്തിൽ നിയുക്തൻ. അതിനാൽ, ഹേ ദേവേശാ, ഞാൻ ലോകപിതാമഹൻ (ബ്രഹ്മാ) പറഞ്ഞതുപോലെ യഥോചിതം ചെയ്യുക.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुंलिङ्गे (contextual), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• आदिकर्ता: the primordial creator
• आदिकर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि-कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; आदि + कर्तृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• नियोजितः: appointed/commissioned
• नियोजितः: Karta-dharmī (कर्तृ-धर्मी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + युज् (धातु) → नियोजित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘appointed/commissioned’

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुरुष्व: do (you)
• कुरुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• देवेश: O Lord of gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; देव + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• लोकपितामह: O grandsire of the world (Brahmā)
• लोकपितामह: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-पितामह (प्रातिपदिक; लोक + पितामह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (Lokapitāmaha) addressing the Supreme Lord (Deveśa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Lokapitāmaha)
• Deveśa (Supreme Lord as overlord of the devas)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the sole primordial source and governor behind creation—implying a single highest agency (Īśvara) from whom cosmic functions proceed, even when articulated through Brahmā’s role.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; it frames the Yogic worldview that all action should align with divine ordinance (īśvara-niyoga), a foundation later developed in the Kurma Purana’s discipline-oriented teachings (including Pāśupata-inflected devotion and restraint).

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

By using a supreme title (Deveśa) for the ultimate Lord receiving Brahmā’s appeal, the verse supports the Purana’s integrative stance: the highest Īśvara transcends sectarian limitation, allowing Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis in describing cosmic governance.