Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 7

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

एकांशेन जगत् कृत्स्नं करोमि मुनिपुङ्गवाः / संहराम्येकरूपेण द्विधावस्था ममैव तु

Transliteration

ekāṃśena jagat kṛtsnaṃ karomi munipuṅgavāḥ / saṃharāmyekarūpeṇa dvidhāvasthā mamaiva tu

Translation

ହେ ମୁନିଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠମାନେ! ମୋର ଏକ ଅଂଶ ଦ୍ୱାରା ମୁଁ ଏହି ସମଗ୍ର ଜଗତକୁ ପ୍ରକଟ କରେ; ଏବଂ ମୋର ଏକ (ଅଖଣ୍ଡ) ରୂପ ଦ୍ୱାରା ତାହାକୁ ସଂହାର କରେ। ଏହିପରି ମୋର ଅବସ୍ଥା ଦ୍ୱିବିଧ—ସୃଷ୍ଟି ଓ ସଂହାର।

Word by Word

• एकांशेन: by one portion
• एकांशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (एकस्य अंशः) करण

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्स्नम्: entire
• कृत्स्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (जगत् इति)

• करोमि: I make/do
• करोमि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनिपुङ्गवाः: O best of sages
• मुनिपुङ्गवाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां पुङ्गवाः)

• संहरामि: I withdraw/dissolve
• संहरामि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एकरूपेण: in one form / by a single form
• एकरूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (एकं रूपं यस्य/एकरूपम्) करण

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (in two ways)

• अवस्था: state/condition
• अवस्था: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (is/exists implied)

• मम: of me
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as the Supreme Ishvara addressing the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Ishvara
• Jagat (Universe)
• Munis (Sages)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as one, undivided reality that manifests the cosmos through a mere “portion” (ekāṁśa) yet remains essentially one (ekarūpa), indicating transcendence alongside immanence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-centric contemplation: meditation on the One Lord as both the source and the dissolver of phenomena—useful for vairāgya (dispassion) and ekāgratā (one-pointedness), consistent with Kurma Purana’s theistic-yogic orientation that later aligns with Pāśupata-style devotion and discipline.

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

By emphasizing a single supreme agency behind creation and dissolution, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance where the highest Ishvara can be understood through both Shaiva and Vaishnava lenses as one ultimate reality.