Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

संवर्तको महानात्मा पवित्रं परमं यशः / वेदो वेद्यं प्रभुर्गोप्ता गोपतिर्ब्रह्मणो मुखम्

Transliteration

saṃvartako mahānātmā pavitraṃ paramaṃ yaśaḥ / vedo vedyaṃ prabhurgoptā gopatirbrahmaṇo mukham

Translation

ఆయనే సంవర్తకుడు, మహాత్ముడు—పవిత్రత స్వరూపుడు, పరమ యశస్సు. ఆయనే వేదము, వేదార్థమునకు జ్ఞేయుడు; ప్రభువు, రక్షకుడు, గోపతి, బ్రహ్మముఖమూ ఆయనే.

Word by Word

• संवर्तकः: the dissolver; one who brings about dissolution
• संवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: ण्वुल्/अक-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महानात्मा: great-souled one
• महानात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘महान् आत्मा’ इति कर्मधारय

• पवित्रम्: purifier; sacred means
• पवित्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (pavitram/yaśaḥ)

• यशः: fame; glory
• यशः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वेदः: the Veda
• वेदः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वेद्यम्: that which is to be known
• वेद्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• प्रभुः: lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गोप्ता: protector
• गोप्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुप् (धातु)
• Form: तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गोपतिः: lord of cows; cowherd-lord
• गोपतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘गवां पतिः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā / of brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मुखम्: mouth; face
• मुखम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

A sage/narrator reciting a stuti (hymn of divine names) to the Supreme Lord identified in Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis (Hari-Hara/Ishvara).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Saṃvartaka
• Brahmā
• Veda
• Iśvara (Hari-Hara)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as both the revealer (Veda) and the revealed truth (vedya), implying the non-dual ground of knowledge, purity, and cosmic governance—Atman/Iśvara as the source and goal of realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a contemplative practice of īśvara-smṛti (God-remembrance) through nāma-japa and stuti: meditating on the Lord as purifier (pavitram), protector (goptā), and the very essence of Vedic knowledge—an orientation consistent with Pāśupata-style devotion and inner purification.

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

By presenting a single Supreme who performs pralaya (Saṃvartaka) and is the Vedic source and protector, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s Hari-Hara/Iśvara vision: one Lord spoken of through multiple sectarian titles without contradiction.