Shloka 92

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

Devanagari script

प्रवर्तते मय्यजस्त्रमाद्या चाक्षरभावना / द्वितीया ब्रह्मणः प्रोक्ता देवस्याक्षरभावना

Transliteration

pravartate mayyajastramādyā cākṣarabhāvanā / dvitīyā brahmaṇaḥ proktā devasyākṣarabhāvanā

Translation

అక్షర-భావనలో మొదటిది నాలో నిరంతరం ప్రవహిస్తుంది. రెండవది బ్రహ్మునకు సంబంధించినదిగా చెప్పబడింది; అదే దేవుని అక్షర-భావనగా కూడా బోధించబడుతుంది।

Word by Word

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds, operates
• प्रवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मयि: in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अजस्त्रम्: unceasingly
• अजस्त्रम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अजस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• आद्या: the first
• आद्या: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अक्षरभावना: imperishable contemplation/power
• अक्षरभावना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर-भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष

• द्वितीया: the second
• द्वितीया: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā/Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रोक्ता: is said, is declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (verbal predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण/विधेय

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अक्षरभावना: imperishable contemplation/power
• अक्षरभावना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर-भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on Akshara-bhavana (Brahman/Ishvara contemplation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Akshara (Imperishable)
• Brahman
• Deva (Ishvara/Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Imperishable (Akṣara) as a single contemplative reality: whether approached as “Brahman” or as “the Lord (Deva/Iśvara),” the meditation culminates in the same unceasing awareness of the imperishable ground.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights akṣara-bhāvanā—steady, uninterrupted contemplation on the Imperishable—framed as a disciplined inner cultivation (bhāvanā) that can be practiced through either Brahman-oriented or Iśvara-oriented focus, aligning with Kurma Purana’s yoga-teaching style.

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

By equating Brahman-contemplation with the Lord’s Akṣara-contemplation, the verse supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the supreme imperishable reality is one, expressed through Iśvara-language that can harmonize Shaiva and Vaishnava devotion.