Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time
इति श्रीकूर्मपुराणे षटसाहस्त्र्यां संहितायां पूर्वविभागे षष्ठो ऽध्यायः श्रीकूर्म उवाच सृष्टिं चिन्तयतस्तस्य कल्पादिषु यथा पुरा / अबुद्धिपूर्वकः सर्गः प्रादुर्भूतस्तमोमयः
iti śrīkūrmapurāṇe ṣaṭasāhastryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pūrvavibhāge ṣaṣṭho 'dhyāyaḥ śrīkūrma uvāca sṛṣṭiṃ cintayatastasya kalpādiṣu yathā purā / abuddhipūrvakaḥ sargaḥ prādurbhūtastamomayaḥ
இவ்வாறு ஸ்ரீகூர்மபுராணம் ஷட்ஸாஹஸ்ரீ ஸம்ஹிதையின் பூர்வவிபாகத்தில் ஆறாம் அத்தியாயம் நிறைவு. ஸ்ரீகூர்மர் உரைத்தார்—அவர் படைப்பைத் தியானித்தபோது, முன்கல்பங்களின் தொடக்கம்போல், முதலில் விவேகரஹிதமான தமோமய ஸர்கம் வெளிப்பட்டது.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents the Lord as the conscious principle who “contemplates” creation, implying a transcendent awareness prior to manifestation; the first emanation is described as tamasic and non-discriminative, showing that clarity (buddhi) is not primary but unfolds later.
No specific practice is prescribed in this verse; however, the motif of the Lord’s “contemplation” (cintana) aligns with Purāṇic yoga language where disciplined contemplation and discernment (buddhi-viveka) are the antidotes to tamas—an important foundation for later Kurma Purana teachings on yoga and dharma.
Directly it names Kūrma (Vishnu) as the teacher of cosmology; within the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, this same cosmic doctrine is compatible with Shaiva-Pashupata frameworks (guṇas, sarga, and liberation through discernment), supporting a shared metaphysical ground rather than sectarian opposition.