Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा विहस्य गरुडध्वजः / उवाच देवं ब्रह्माणं मेघगम्भीरनिः स्वनः

Transliteration

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā vihasya garuḍadhvajaḥ / uvāca devaṃ brahmāṇaṃ meghagambhīraniḥ svanaḥ

Translation

Ao ouvir tais palavras, o Senhor de estandarte de Garuḍa (Nārāyaṇa) sorriu e, com voz profunda como o trovão nas nuvens, falou ao deus Brahmā.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; demonstrative used adjectivally with ‘vacanam’

• vacanam: speech, statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having heard’

• vihasya: having laughed
• vihasya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√has (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having laughed/smiled’

• garuḍa-dhvajaḥ: Garuḍa-bannered (Viṣṇu)
• garuḍa-dhvajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; बहुव्रीहि-समासः ‘one whose banner is Garuḍa’ (epithet of Viṣṇu)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्; Perfect), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• devam: to the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक; ‘Brahmā’)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular

• megha-gambhīra-niḥsvanaḥ: (he) whose sound was deep like thunder
• megha-gambhīra-niḥsvanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + gambhīra (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; बहुव्रीहि-समासः ‘one whose sound is deep like a cloud/thunder’ (epithet of speaker)

Speaker

Garuḍadhvaja (Lord Vishnu/Nārāyaṇa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍadhvaja (Vishnu/Nārāyaṇa)
• Brahmā

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it presents Nārāyaṇa as the serene, sovereign speaker whose effortless composure and commanding voice indicate the Lord’s transcendent mastery that underlies cosmic governance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit technique is taught in this verse; it sets the contemplative tone—divine calm (praśānti) and clarity of speech—often treated in the Kurma Purana as prerequisites for receiving higher instruction on dharma and yoga.

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

While Shiva is not named here, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis frames such divine dialogues as expressions of one Īśvara guiding creation through different forms—this verse positions Vishnu’s instructive role within that unified theistic vision.