Shloka 22

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

गुणसाम्यं तदव्यक्तं प्रकृतिः परिगीयते / प्रधानं जगतो योनिर्मायातत्त्वमचेतनम्

Transliteration

guṇasāmyaṃ tadavyaktaṃ prakṛtiḥ parigīyate / pradhānaṃ jagato yonirmāyātattvamacetanam

Translation

ഗുണങ്ങളുടെ സമ്യാവസ്ഥയായത് ‘അവ്യക്തം’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. അതേ പ്രകൃതി—പ്രധാനം, ജഗത്തിന്റെ യോനി, മായാതത്ത്വം; സ്വഭാവത്തിൽ അചേതനം.

Word by Word

• गुणसाम्यम्: equilibrium of the guṇas
• गुणसाम्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + साम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गुणानां साम्यम् (equilibrium of guṇas)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti (nature)
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परिगीयते: is called/celebrated
• परिगीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-गै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘is sung/celebrated/called’

• प्रधानम्: Pradhāna
• प्रधानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• योनिः: source/womb
• योनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मायातत्त्वम्: the principle of māyā
• मायातत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मायायाः तत्त्वम्

• अचेतनम्: insentient
• अचेतनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching the sages (Sāṅkhya-oriented exposition within the Purāṇic Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Prakriti
• Pradhana
• Maya
• Gunas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By defining Prakṛti/Pradhāna as acetanā (insentient) and merely the womb of the universe, the verse implicitly distinguishes the conscious principle (Ātman/Puruṣa/Īśvara) as different from and superior to the Unmanifest material cause.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse provides the metaphysical basis used in Kurma Purana’s yoga teaching: discrimination (viveka) between the insentient Prakṛti (guṇa-sāmyāvasthā) and the conscious Self. Such discernment supports inward meditation leading toward detachment from guṇa-born modifications.

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

While not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu directly, the teaching aligns with the Purāṇa’s synthesis: the insentient Māyā/Prakṛti is the material principle, whereas the supreme Lord—revered as Hari-Hara/Īśvara in the broader text—stands as the conscious ruler beyond it.