Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

कुतः सर्वमिदं जातं कस्मिंश्च लयमेष्यति / नियन्ता कश्च सर्वेषां वदस्व पुरुषोत्तम

Transliteration

kutaḥ sarvamidaṃ jātaṃ kasmiṃśca layameṣyati / niyantā kaśca sarveṣāṃ vadasva puruṣottama

Translation

สรรพสิ่งนี้เกิดจากอะไร และท้ายที่สุดจะสลายไปในสิ่งใด? และผู้ควบคุมสรรพชีวิตทั้งปวงคือใคร? ข้าแต่ปุรุโษตตมะ โปรดตรัสบอกเถิด

Word by Word

• कुतः: from where
• कुतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रश्नार्थक; source/ablative sense ‘from where/whence’)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘इदम्’)

• इदम्: this (universe)
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जातम्: arisen
• जातम्: Kriya (क्रिया-विशेषण/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘born/arisen’

• कस्मिन्: in what
• कस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/and)

• लयम्: dissolution
• लयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एष्यति: will go/attain
• एष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नियन्ता: controller
• नियन्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि + यम् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/and)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of all (beings)’

• वदस्व: tell (us)
• वदस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• पुरुषोत्तम: O Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘पुरुषेषु उत्तमः’

Speaker

A questioning sage addressing Lord Kurma (Vishnu) as Puruṣottama

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama
• Lord Kurma

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the central Vedantic inquiry: the ultimate source (origin), final ground (dissolution), and governing principle (niyantā) of the cosmos—pointing toward one Supreme Reality as the inner ruler behind all phenomena.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse highlights the preparatory yogic stance of jijñāsā (spiritual inquiry). In the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching style, such inquiry leads into disciplined meditation and devotion to the Supreme Lord as the controller and inner guide.

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

By addressing the Supreme as Puruṣottama and asking about the single controller of all, the verse supports the Purana’s integrative theology: the highest Lord is one, revered through Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms without contradiction.