Shloka 18
Tāmasa Sarga, the Androgynous Division of Brahmā, and the Lineages of Dharma and Adharma
भृगुर्भवो मरीचिश्च तथा चैवाङ्गिरा मुनिः / पुलस्त्यः पुलहश्चैव क्रतुः परमधर्मवित्
bhṛgurbhavo marīciśca tathā caivāṅgirā muniḥ / pulastyaḥ pulahaścaiva kratuḥ paramadharmavit
భృగు, భవ, మరీచి; అలాగే ముని అంగిరసుడు; పులస్త్య, పులహ; ఇంకా క్రతు—ఇవన్నీ పరమ ధర్మవేత్తలు.
Narrator (Purāṇic recension voice, traditionally Sūta/authorial narration within the Kurma Purana’s creation-account frame)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This verse does not directly define Ātman; it establishes the authority of Dharma by naming primordial sages (ṛṣis) revered as ‘parama-dharma-vit’, whose teachings later frame right knowledge and right conduct that support Self-realization.
No specific yoga technique is taught in this line; it functions as a lineage-marker, grounding later spiritual instruction (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline and Purāṇic dharma) in the authority of ancient seers.
It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; indirectly, by emphasizing Dharma-known-by-ṛṣis, it supports the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis in which dharma and liberation teachings can be transmitted through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava streams.