Shloka 21

Naimittika-pralaya and the Theology of Kāla: Seven Suns, Saṃvartaka Fire, Flood, and Varāha Kalpa

Devanagari script

सूर्याग्निना प्रमृष्टानां संसृष्टानां परस्परम् / एकत्वमुपयातानामेकज्वालं भवत्युत

Transliteration

sūryāgninā pramṛṣṭānāṃ saṃsṛṣṭānāṃ parasparam / ekatvamupayātānāmekajvālaṃ bhavatyuta

Translation

സൂര്യാഗ്നിയാൽ പ്രദീപ്തമായി പരസ്പരം ലയിച്ചവ, ഏകത്വം പ്രാപിച്ചാൽ നിശ്ചയമായും ഒരൊറ്റ ജ്വാലയായിത്തീരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• sūrya-agninā: by the sun and fire
• sūrya-agninā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (सूर्यश्च अग्निश्च), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (समाहार/एकवद्भाव)

• pramṛṣṭānām: of those that are rubbed/affected
• pramṛṣṭānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-mṛj (धातु √मृज् + उपसर्ग प्र + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP: rubbed/cleansed/affected), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; (येषाम्)

• saṃsṛṣṭānām: of those that are mingled together
• saṃsṛṣṭānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-sṛj (धातु √सृज्/√सृज् 'to join' + उपसर्ग सम् + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP: joined/mingled), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• parasparam: mutually, with each other
• parasparam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, परस्परार्थक (reciprocal adverb: mutually)

• ekatvam: oneness, unity
• ekatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• upayātānām: of those that have attained
• upayātānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-yā (धातु √या + उपसर्ग उप + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP: having reached/attained), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• eka-jvālām: a single flame (state)
• eka-jvālām: Karma (कर्म/फल)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + jvālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (एका ज्वाला यस्य/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (अध्याहृतं: रूपम्/स्वरूपम्)

• bhavati: becomes/is
• bhavati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु √भू)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• uta: and also/indeed
• uta: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (particle: and also/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in an Ishvara-Gita style passage emphasizing non-dual realization through yogic integration

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Sun)
• Agni (Fire)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It uses the metaphor of separate fires merging into one flame to show that multiplicity is only apparent; when distinctions are dissolved, consciousness is realized as one undivided reality (ekatva).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to yogic integration (saṃyoga) where mental and experiential separations are ‘kindled’ by inner illumination and then merged—suggesting absorption (samādhi) in which the practitioner’s awareness becomes single-pointed like one flame.

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

By emphasizing one flame arising from apparent plurality, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu are not rival ultimates but convergent expressions of a single supreme divine energy realized through yoga.