Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64
Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time
नामरूपं च भूतानां कृत्यानां च प्रपञ्चनम् / वेदशब्देभ्य एवादौ निर्ममे स महेश्वरः
nāmarūpaṃ ca bhūtānāṃ kṛtyānāṃ ca prapañcanam / vedaśabdebhya evādau nirmame sa maheśvaraḥ
Pada permulaan sekali, Maheśvara membentuk hamparan yang nyata—nama dan rupa segala makhluk, serta pengembangan bidang perbuatan dan upacara—sesungguhnya hanya daripada bunyi-bunyi Veda semata-mata.
Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic account of creation centered on Maheśvara/Iśvara)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents Iśvara (Maheśvara) as the originating intelligence who projects the world as nāma–rūpa; the manifest cosmos is dependent on the Supreme, while the Supreme stands prior to and beyond the manifested differentiation.
The verse points to Veda-śabda as a primary revelatory principle; in a Yoga context this supports mantra-oriented contemplation (śabda-brahman upāsanā), where disciplined recitation and inward absorption into sacred sound becomes a means to align the mind with Iśvara.
By attributing cosmic origination to Maheśvara while the Kurma Purana overall integrates Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frames, it supports a non-sectarian reading: the supreme Iśvara who creates through sacred sound is ultimately one, approached through Śiva or Viṣṇu names and forms.