Shloka 10

Rudra’s Cosmic Dance and the Recognition of Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity (Īśvara-gītā Continuation)

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माण्डं तेजसा स्वेन सर्वमावृत्य च स्थितम् / दंष्ट्राकरालं दुर्धर्षं सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभम्

Transliteration

brahmāṇḍaṃ tejasā svena sarvamāvṛtya ca sthitam / daṃṣṭrākarālaṃ durdharṣaṃ sūryakoṭisamaprabham

Translation

ਆਪਣੇ ਹੀ ਤੇਜ ਨਾਲ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾਂਡ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਆਪ ਕੇ ਢੱਕ ਲਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਉੱਥੇ ਖੜਾ ਹੋਇਆ—ਦੰਸ਼ਟਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਭਿਆਨਕ, ਅਜਿੱਤ, ਅਤੇ ਕਰੋੜਾਂ ਸੂਰਜਾਂ ਵਰਗੀ ਕਾਂਤੀ ਵਾਲਾ।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-अण्डम्: the cosmic egg (universe)
• ब्रह्म-अण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः अण्डम् = cosmic egg)

• तेजसा: by (his) radiance
• तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• स्वेन: by his own
• स्वेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन; तेजसा इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (by his own)

• सर्वम्: all, entire
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; ब्रह्माण्डम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आवृत्य: having covered
• आवृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), उपसर्गः आ-; अर्थः—‘आवृत्य’ = having covered

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• स्थितम्: standing, abiding
• स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √स्था (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), देवम्/रुद्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (standing/abiding)

• दंष्ट्रा-करालम्: terrible-fanged
• दंष्ट्रा-करालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दंष्ट्रा एव कराला = having terrible fangs)

• दुर्धर्षम्: hard to assail, invincible
• दुर्धर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्धर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• सूर्य-कोटि-सम-प्रभम्: having splendor equal to ten million suns
• सूर्य-कोटि-सम-प्रभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (सूर्यकोट्या समा प्रभा यस्य = having radiance equal to ten million suns)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration in the Kurma Purana’s early cosmological/manifestation description; traditionally attributed within the Sūta-style narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmāṇḍa (Cosmic Egg)
• Tejas (Divine Radiance)
• Sūrya (Sun)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It depicts the Supreme as self-luminous (svena tejasā) and all-pervading—able to envelop the entire brahmāṇḍa—indicating an Atman/Iśvara whose consciousness-power is not limited by space, form, or created light.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not prescribing steps directly, the verse supports the Purāṇic-Yogic theme of dhyāna on the Lord’s tejas (inner radiance). In Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava framework, such contemplation aligns with īśvara-dhyāna and ekāgratā (one-pointedness), foundational to Pāśupata-oriented discipline and devotional yoga.

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

By emphasizing a single, supreme, unassailable theophany whose tejas pervades the cosmos, the verse fits the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the ultimate Iśvara—praised as Hari or Hara in different contexts—manifests one sovereign radiance beyond rivalry.