Shloka 89

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

तिस्त्रस्तु मूर्तयः प्रोक्ता ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः / रजः सत्त्वतमोयोगात् परस्य परमात्मनः

Transliteration

tistrastu mūrtayaḥ proktā brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ / rajaḥ sattvatamoyogāt parasya paramātmanaḥ

Translation

మూడు మూర్తులు ప్రకటించబడ్డాయి—బ్రహ్మ, విష్ణు, మహేశ్వరులు—పరమాత్ముని రజః, సత్త్వ, తమః గుణాల సంయోగమునుండి ఉద్భవించినవి।

Word by Word

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• मूर्तयः: forms; manifestations
• मूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ताः: are said; are declared
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘कथिताः’ अर्थे

• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara
• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्-विष्णु-महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमासः: ब्रह्मा + विष्णुः + महेश्वरः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• रजः: rajas (passion)
• रजः: Hetu (हेतु) / Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुणविशेषः

• सत्त्व: sattva (purity)
• सत्त्व: Hetu (हेतु) / Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; गुणविशेषः

• तमः: tamas (darkness)
• तमः: Hetu (हेतु) / Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; गुणविशेषः

• योगात्: from the conjunction/association
• योगात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/हेतु-अपादान), एकवचन; ‘संयोग/सम्बन्ध’ अर्थे

• परस्य: of the supreme
• परस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः: परमः आत्मा; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial/teaching voice within the Kurma Purana’s doctrinal exposition (attributed in tradition to Lord Kūrma’s instruction stream)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu
• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Paramātman
• Triguṇas (rajas, sattva, tamas)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Paramātman as the ultimate basis from which the three divine functions/personae are expressed, with the guṇas serving as the explanatory principle for differentiated manifestation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; it supplies a metaphysical framework (triguṇa theory) that later supports yoga-practice by guiding discernment (viveka) beyond sattva-rajas-tamas toward the Supreme.

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

It places Viṣṇu and Maheśvara alongside Brahmā as co-manifest forms grounded in the one Paramātman, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative, non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaiṣṇava theology.