Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time

Devanagari script

महाभूतेषु नानात्वमिन्द्रियार्थेषु मूर्तिषु / विनियोगं च भूतानां धातैव विदधात् स्वयम्

Transliteration

mahābhūteṣu nānātvamindriyārtheṣu mūrtiṣu / viniyogaṃ ca bhūtānāṃ dhātaiva vidadhāt svayam

Translation

Kepelbagaian dalam unsur-unsur agung (mahābhūta), dalam objek-objek indera, dan dalam rupa yang berjasad—bahkan pembahagian fungsi bagi makhluk-makhluk—ditetapkan oleh Dhātṛ, Sang Pengatur kosmik, seorang diri menurut kehendak-Nya.

Word by Word

• महाभूतेषु: in the great elements
• महाभूतेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महानि भूतानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नानात्वम्: diversity
• नानात्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नानात्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), एकवचन (Singular)

• इन्द्रिय-अर्थेषु: in the objects of the senses
• इन्द्रिय-अर्थेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (इन्द्रियाणाम् अर्थाः); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मूर्तिषु: in forms/bodies
• मूर्तिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विनियोगम्: allocation/assignment
• विनियोगम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/द्वितीया), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भूतानाम्: of beings/elements
• भूतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• धाता: the creator/ordainer
• धाता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• विदधात्: he arranged/ordained
• विदधात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• स्वयम्: by himself
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb); आत्मवाचक (reflexive)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna in cosmological doctrine

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dhātṛ
• Mahābhūta
• Indriya
• Artha
• Mūrti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a single supreme ordering principle (Dhātṛ/Īśvara) behind all multiplicity—elements, sense-objects, and forms—implying that apparent diversity is governed by one conscious regulator rather than being ultimate in itself.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a yogic contemplative approach: meditate on the Lord as the inner ordainer of the tattvas (elements and sense-fields), cultivating detachment from sensory variety and steadiness in īśvara-bhāvanā (God-centered contemplation).

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

By attributing cosmic regulation to one Dhātṛ/Īśvara, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same supreme Lord is praised through Shaiva and Vaishnava names while remaining the single source of cosmic order.