Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

सात्त्विकेष्वथ कल्पेषु माहात्म्यमधिकं हरेः / तामसेषु हरस्योक्तं राजसेषु प्रजापतेः

Transliteration

sāttvikeṣvatha kalpeṣu māhātmyamadhikaṃ hareḥ / tāmaseṣu harasyoktaṃ rājaseṣu prajāpateḥ

Translation

సాత్త్విక కల్పములలో హరి (విష్ణు) మహాత్మ్యం అధికమని; తామస కల్పములలో హర (శివ) మహిమని; రాజస కల్పములలో ప్రజాపతి (బ్రహ్మ) మహిమని చెప్పబడింది।

Word by Word

• सात्त्विकेषु: in sāttvika (pure)
• सात्त्विकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of कल्पेषु)

• अथ: then / now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (sequencer/then)

• कल्पेषु: in the kalpas
• कल्पेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness / glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (विधेय/subject complement)

• अधिकम्: greater
• अधिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of माहात्म्यम्)

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• तामसेषु: in tāmasa (dark)
• तामसेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of कल्पेषु—elliptic)

• हरस्य: of Hara (Śiva)
• हरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• उक्तम्: is said
• उक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया-भाव/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)

• राजसेषु: in rājasa (active)
• राजसेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of कल्पेषु—elliptic)

• प्रजापतेः: of Prajāpati (Brahmā)
• प्रजापतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing Purāṇic doctrinal classification of kalpas by guṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Hara (Shiva)
• Prajapati (Brahma)
• Kalpa
• Sattva
• Rajas
• Tamas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies a single supreme reality expressed through different divine functions: preservation (Hari), dissolution/transformative power (Hara), and creation (Prajāpati), whose prominence varies with the guṇa-character of a kalpa.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is taught directly; the verse provides a doctrinal frame used in Kurma Purana’s yoga-theology—guiding devotees to contemplate Īśvara’s one power appearing as different deities according to cosmic conditions (guṇa and kalpa).

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

It presents a synthesis: Hari and Hara are not rivals but alternate emphases within different guṇa-dominated cosmic cycles, supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaishnava unity.