Shloka 2

Tāmasa Sarga, the Androgynous Division of Brahmā, and the Lineages of Dharma and Adharma

Devanagari script

तमोमात्रावृतो ब्रह्मा तदाशोचत दुः खितः / ततः स विदधे बुद्धिमर्थनिश्चयगामिनीम्

Transliteration

tamomātrāvṛto brahmā tadāśocata duḥ khitaḥ / tataḥ sa vidadhe buddhimarthaniścayagāminīm

Translation

తమస్సు మాత్రముచే ఆవరితుడైన బ్రహ్మ అప్పుడు దుఃఖంతో శోకించాడు। అనంతరం అర్థం మరియు ప్రయోజనాన్ని నిశ్చయించు బుద్ధిని ఆయన సృష్టించాడు।

Word by Word

• तमः-मात्रा-आवृतः: covered by mere darkness
• तमः-मात्रा-आवृतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक) + mātrā (प्रातिपदिक) + ā-vṛ (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त ‘आवृत’; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (‘तमोमात्रया आवृतः’ = covered by mere darkness)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• अशोचत: lamented/grieved
• अशोचत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śuc (धातु) + a (आगम)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दुःखितः: distressed
• दुःखितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/अनन्तरार्थक (thereupon/from that)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विदधे: arranged/produced
• विदधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु) + vi (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• बुद्धिम्: intelligence/understanding
• बुद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अर्थ-निश्चय-गामिनीम्: leading to determination of purpose/meaning
• अर्थ-निश्चय-गामिनीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + niścaya (प्रातिपदिक) + gāminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उपपद/षष्ठीभावः: ‘अर्थनिश्चयं गच्छति’ = leading to determination of meaning/purpose)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator continuing the creation account as taught within the Kurma Purana’s dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Tamas
• Buddhi

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it distinguishes the evolutes of prakṛti—tamas and buddhi—from pure consciousness. The sorrow of Brahmā and the arising of buddhi imply that liberation requires discernment beyond guṇa-bound mind and intellect.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds buddhi as artha-niścaya (decisive discernment), a prerequisite for Yoga: right determination (niścaya) enables viveka, steadies meditation, and supports the Pāśupata-leaning discipline of turning from tamas toward clarity (sattva).

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

Not explicitly in this śloka; however, Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats cosmic governance and inner discernment as aligned with the one Supreme Lord revered through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms—buddhi becomes the instrument for realizing that unity beyond guṇas.