Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

रजोगुणमयं चान्यद् रूपं तस्यैव धीमतः / चतुर्मुखः स भगवान् जगत्सृष्टौ प्रवर्तते

Transliteration

rajoguṇamayaṃ cānyad rūpaṃ tasyaiva dhīmataḥ / caturmukhaḥ sa bhagavān jagatsṛṣṭau pravartate

Translation

அந்த பரம ஞானியின் இன்னொரு ரூபம் ரஜோகுணமயம்; அவர் நான்முக பகவான் பிரம்மாவாய் உலகச் சிருஷ்டியில் ஈடுபடுகிறார்.

Word by Word

• रजोगुणमयम्: consisting of the rajas quality
• रजोगुणमयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजोगुणमय (प्रातिपदिक; रजस्+गुण+मय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies रूपम्); तत्पुरुषः (रजोगुणेन मयम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक conjunction

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (another)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• धीमतः: of the wise one
• धीमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (of the wise one)

• चतुर्मुखः: four-faced
• चतुर्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्मुख (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर्+मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्यानि मुखानि चत्वारि सः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/नाम

• जगत्-सृष्टौ: in the creation of the world
• जगत्-सृष्टौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्+सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः सृष्टिः)

• प्रवर्तते: engages/sets in motion
• प्रवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing King Indradyumna (Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhagavān
• Rajo-guṇa
• Jagat (universe)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as one wise Reality that manifests functional forms through the guṇas—here, the rajas-aspect appearing as Brahmā for cosmic creation—while remaining the same underlying Lord.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies a guṇa-analysis framework used in Yoga and sādhana: discerning rajas (activity/impulsion) as a cosmic force and, by extension, cultivating viveka to move from rājasic agitation toward sattva and ultimately guṇa-transcendence taught across Kūrma Purāṇa’s spiritual instruction.

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

By attributing Brahmā’s creative agency to “that very” one Supreme Lord, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis: multiple deities and functions (including those associated with different traditions) are expressions of a single highest Reality, harmonizing Shaiva–Vaishnava theology.