Shloka 54

Naimittika-pralaya and the Theology of Kāla: Seven Suns, Saṃvartaka Fire, Flood, and Varāha Kalpa

Devanagari script

अहं पुराणपुरुषो भूर्भुवः प्रभवो विभुः / सहस्रचरणः श्रीमान् सहस्रांशुः सहस्रदृक्

Transliteration

ahaṃ purāṇapuruṣo bhūrbhuvaḥ prabhavo vibhuḥ / sahasracaraṇaḥ śrīmān sahasrāṃśuḥ sahasradṛk

Translation

நான் புராண புருஷன்—பூவும் புவவும் ஆகியவற்றின் தோற்றமும் அனைத்திலும் பரவிய ஆண்டவன்; ஆயிரம் பாதங்களும், திருவும், ஆயிரம் கதிர்களும், ஆயிரம் கண்களும் உடையவன்.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुराणपुरुषः: the primeval person
• पुराणपुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘पुराणः पुरुषः’ इति कर्मधारय

• भूः: earth (Bhū)
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भुवः: mid-region (Bhuvaḥ)
• भुवः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वेदिक-रूप; ‘भुवः’ as nominative)

• प्रभवः: source; origin
• प्रभवः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + भू (धातु)
• Form: प्र-उपसर्गपूर्वक ‘भू’ धातोः घञ्/अच्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव/कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विभुः: all-pervading; mighty
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सहस्रचरणः: having a thousand feet
• सहस्रचरणः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सहस्राणि चरणानि यस्य’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः, परन्तु रूपतः संख्यापूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (सहस्र-चरण)

• श्रीमान्: glorious; endowed with splendor
• श्रीमान्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (‘possessing’)

• सहस्रांशुः: thousand-rayed
• सहस्रांशुः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सहस्राः अंशवः/किरणाः यस्य’ (thousand-rayed)

• सहस्रदृक्: thousand-seeing; thousand-eyed
• सहस्रदृक्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + दृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सहस्रं दर्शनं/दृष्टिः यस्य’ (thousand-eyed/seeing)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in a cosmic, Purusha-style self-revelation (Ishvara-stuti tone)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Purāṇa-Puruṣa
• Bhū-loka
• Bhuvar-loka
• Śrī (Lakṣmī as auspicious power)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the Purāṇa-Puruṣa: the all-pervading origin of the worlds, described through cosmic-body imagery (thousand feet, eyes, rays) to indicate limitless awareness, power, and immanence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports īśvara-dhyāna (meditation on the Lord’s cosmic form): contemplating the all-seeing, all-pervading Puruṣa stabilizes the mind and aligns with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and disciplined concentration on the supreme controller.

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

By using a Puruṣa/Īśvara idiom common to both Shaiva and Vaishnava theology, it frames the Supreme as one reality expressed through multiple divine modes—supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis.