Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya

Devanagari script

इत्येष प्राकृतः सर्गः संक्षेपात् कथितो मया / अबुद्धिपूर्वको विप्रा ब्राह्मीं सृष्टिं निबोधत

Transliteration

ityeṣa prākṛtaḥ sargaḥ saṃkṣepāt kathito mayā / abuddhipūrvako viprā brāhmīṃ sṛṣṭiṃ nibodhata

Translation

Demikianlah penciptaan bersifat kebendaan (prākṛta) ini telah aku jelaskan secara ringkas. Kini, wahai para resi brāhmaṇa, fahamilah penciptaan yang lahir daripada Brahmā (brāhmī sṛṣṭi)—penciptaan yang mengalir daripada dorongan awal yang tidak dirancang dengan sengaja.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha/Avyaya (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक-निपात (quotative/end marker)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; निर्देशार्थक-सर्वनाम

• प्राकृतः: material/natural
• प्राकृतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सर्गः: creation/emanation
• सर्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• संक्षेपात्: briefly/in summary
• संक्षेपात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (अपादान) एकवचनम्; हेतौ/प्रकारे (ablative: 'in brief/from brevity')

• कथितः: has been told
• कथितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथित (कृदन्त; कथ् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) — 'told/related' (with implied 'अस्ति')

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया एकवचनम्

• अबुद्धिपूर्वकः: without understanding
• अबुद्धिपूर्वकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + बुद्धि + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अबुद्धिः पूर्वं यस्य/येन = without prior understanding; 'unintelligent/without comprehension')

• विप्राः: O Brahmins
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन (vocative) बहुवचनम्

• ब्राह्मीम्: pertaining to Brahmā
• ब्राह्मीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• निबोधत: understand/learn
• निबोधत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (आज्ञार्थक), मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (including Indradyumna’s interlocutors in the broader narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prakṛti
• Brahmā
• Vipras (Brāhmaṇa sages)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By distinguishing prākṛta (prakṛti-based) creation from brāhmī (Brahmā’s secondary) creation, the verse implies a teaching framework where the Supreme remains the instructing witness and source, while manifested orders unfold through prakṛti and appointed cosmic functions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse itself is a transition in cosmological instruction rather than a direct yoga-practice injunction; indirectly it supports meditative discernment (viveka) by mapping levels of creation—helpful for Sāṃkhya-Yoga contemplation used in the Kurma Purana’s broader Pāśupata-oriented teaching style.

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

Though not naming Śiva explicitly, the verse fits the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: a single supreme teacher (here Kūrma/Vishnu) explains cosmic processes often shared across Śaiva-Sāṃkhya and Vaiṣṇava Purāṇic cosmology, emphasizing doctrinal harmony rather than sectarian division.