Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14
Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time
वैकारिकस्तृतीयस्तु सर्ग ऐन्द्रियकः स्मृतः / इत्येष प्राकृतः सर्गः संभूतो ऽबुद्धिपूर्वकः
vaikārikastṛtīyastu sarga aindriyakaḥ smṛtaḥ / ityeṣa prākṛtaḥ sargaḥ saṃbhūto 'buddhipūrvakaḥ
மூன்றாம் ஸர்க்கம் ‘வைகாரிக’ எனப்படும்; அதுவே ‘ஐந்திரியக’—இந்திரியங்களின் தோற்றம்—என நினைக்கப்படுகிறது. இது பிராக்ருத ஸர்க்கம்; சிந்தித்த அறிவால் அல்ல, இயற்கையிலிருந்து தானே எழுந்தது.
Sūta (narrator) describing the cosmological categories as taught in the Kurma Purana tradition
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By stating that the sensory creation is prākṛta and “not preceded by intellect,” the verse implies that such evolutes belong to Prakṛti, while the Self (Ātman/Puruṣa) remains the non-acting witness distinct from material processes.
While not prescribing a practice directly, the verse supports yogic discrimination (viveka): senses and their functions are products of Prakṛti. Meditation in the Kurma tradition uses this insight to detach from indriya-driven movements and stabilize awareness in the witnessing Self/Iśvara.
Indirectly: by grounding creation in Prakṛti’s spontaneous evolution, it aligns with the Purana’s synthesizing theology where the one Supreme Iśvara—revered as Hari and Hara—presides over, yet remains beyond, the prākṛta sarga.