Shloka 13

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

स सर्वलोकनिर्माता मन्नियोगेन सर्ववित् / भूत्वा चतुर्मुखः सर्गं सृजत्येवात्मसंभवः

Transliteration

sa sarvalokanirmātā manniyogena sarvavit / bhūtvā caturmukhaḥ sargaṃ sṛjatyevātmasaṃbhavaḥ

Translation

నా నియోగముచేత సర్వజ్ఞుడైన స్వయంభువు సమస్త లోకాల సృష్టికర్తగా అవతరిస్తాడు; చతుర్ముఖ రూపం ధరించి నిశ్చయంగా సృష్టిని సృజిస్తాడు।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्व-लोक-निर्माता: creator of all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-निर्माता: सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्माता (प्रातिपदिक; √मा ‘measure/make’ with नि-, agent noun)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: “सर्वलोकानां निर्माता” (creator of all worlds); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मत्-नियोगेन: by my command
• मत्-नियोगेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी-अर्थक) + नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: “मम नियोगः”; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instr. sg.)

• सर्व-वित्: knower of all
• सर्व-वित्: सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; √विद्)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: “सर्वं वेत्ति” (knower of all); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): “having become”

• चतुर्मुखः: four-faced
• चतुर्मुखः: विशेषण (of सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास: “चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य” (one who has four faces); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्गम्: creation/emanation
• सर्गम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• सृजति: creates
• सृजति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) अवधारणे (emphasis)

• आत्म-सम्भवः: self-born
• आत्म-सम्भवः: विशेषण (of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+√भू)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: “आत्मनः सम्भवः/आत्मसम्भवः” (self-born); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna-context narration on creation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Brahma (Caturmukha, Atmasambhava)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents creation as proceeding under the Supreme Lord’s ordinance: Brahmā, though “self-born,” functions as an empowered agent (niyoga) of the higher Ishvara who governs cosmic order.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies an Ishvara-centric discipline: contemplation on the inner ruler who appoints cosmic functions supports devotion (īśvara-bhakti) and steady meditation (dhyāna) on divine sovereignty, a foundation for Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented teachings.

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

By stressing a single supreme ordinance behind creation, it aligns with the Purana’s synthetic theology: different divine forms and cosmic roles operate harmoniously under one ultimate reality, supporting a non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaishnava reading.