Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya

Devanagari script

प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव प्रविश्याशु महेश्वरः / क्षोभयामास योगेन परेण परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

prakṛtiṃ puruṣaṃ caiva praviśyāśu maheśvaraḥ / kṣobhayāmāsa yogena pareṇa parameśvaraḥ

Translation

มหेशวร—พระผู้เป็นเจ้าสูงสุด—ทรงเข้าสู่ทั้งปรกฤติและปุรุษะโดยฉับพลัน แล้วทรงก่อให้ทั้งสองสั่นไหวเคลื่อนไปด้วยโยคะอันยิ่งยวดของพระองค์

Word by Word

• prakṛtim: Prakṛti (primordial nature)
• prakṛtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• puruṣam: Puruṣa (spirit/person)
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (विश् धातु) + lyap (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund) = 'having entered'

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• maheśvaraḥ: the Great Lord
• maheśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् ईश्वरः)

• kṣobhayāmāsa: agitated / stirred
• kṣobhayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣubh (क्षुभ् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative) भावः = 'क्षोभयति'

• yogena: by yoga / by union
• yogena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• pareṇa: supreme
• pareṇa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'योगेन' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (परमः ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Narratorial voice (Purana narrator describing the Supreme Lord’s act of creation; framed within the Kurma Purana’s teaching lineage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara (Parameshvara)
• Prakriti
• Purusha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Lord as the indwelling controller who can “enter” both consciousness (Puruṣa) and Nature (Prakṛti) and still remain transcendent—implying Atman/Ishvara as both immanent (antaryāmin) and beyond.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to “para-yoga”—not merely human technique but the Lord’s sovereign yogic power (aiśvarya) that integrates and activates the principles of reality; in Kurma Purana’s broader yoga framework, this supports meditation on Ishvara as the inner mover and source of manifestation.

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

By using titles like Maheśvara/Parameśvara for the Supreme cause, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest Ishvara can be praised in Shaiva language while functioning as the supreme divine principle consistent with Vaishnava theology.