Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya

Devanagari script

वैकारिकादहङ्कारात् सर्गो वैकारिको ऽभवत् / तैजसानीन्द्रियाणि स्युर्देवा वैकारिका दश

Transliteration

vaikārikādahaṅkārāt sargo vaikāriko 'bhavat / taijasānīndriyāṇi syurdevā vaikārikā daśa

Translation

வைகாரிக (சாத்த்விக) அஹங்காரத்திலிருந்து வைகாரிகப் படைப்பு தோன்றியது. தைஜஸ (ராஜஸ) அம்சத்திலிருந்து இந்திரியங்கள் உண்டாகின்றன; அவற்றின் அதிஷ்டாதேவர்கள் பத்து பேரும் வைகாரிகர் எனக் கூறப்படுகின்றனர்.

Word by Word

• वैकारिकात्: from the vaikārika (mode)
• वैकारिकात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकारिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (from the vaikārika)

• अहङ्कारात्: from ego
• अहङ्कारात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अहम्+कारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• सर्गः: creation/emission
• सर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वैकारिकः: vaikārika
• वैकारिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकारिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सर्गः)

• अभवत्: arose/occurred
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तैजसानि: taijasa (fiery)
• तैजसानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying इन्द्रियाणि)

• इन्द्रियाणि: sense organs
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्युः: would be/are said to be
• स्युः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वैकारिकाः: vaikārika
• वैकारिकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकारिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying देवाः)

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with देवाः)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s Sāṅkhya-based cosmology as taught in the tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ahaṅkāra
• Vaikārika (Sāttvika)
• Taijasa (Rājasa)
• Indriyas
• Adhi-devatās (presiding deities)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By mapping creation to guṇa-conditioned evolutes (ahaṅkāra, indriyas, their presiding deities), the verse implies the Ātman/Iśvara is distinct from these produced principles—witnessing and transcending guṇas rather than being a product of them.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds indriyas (sense-faculties) and their governance, which directly supports Yoga discipline: indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) and inward turning of the faculties—core prerequisites for dhyāna in the Kurma Purana’s broader Pāśupata-oriented spirituality.

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

While not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly, it uses a shared Sāṅkhya framework accepted across Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava teachings in the Kurma Purana, presenting cosmology as a common metaphysical ground for realizing the one Supreme beyond guṇas.