Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

अस्माच्च कारणाद् ब्रह्मन् पुत्रो भवतु मे भवान् / पद्मयोनिरिति ख्यातो मत्प्रियार्थं जगन्मय

Transliteration

asmācca kāraṇād brahman putro bhavatu me bhavān / padmayoniriti khyāto matpriyārthaṃ jaganmaya

Translation

ด้วยเหตุนี้เอง โอ พราหมณ์ จงเป็นบุตรของเราเถิด จงเป็นที่เลื่องลือว่า ‘ปัทมโยนิ’ ผู้บังเกิดจากดอกบัว และเมื่อแผ่ซ่านทั่วจักรวาลแล้ว จงก่อกำเนิดโลกเพื่อพระประสงค์อันเป็นที่รักของเรา

Word by Word

• अस्मात्: from me
• अस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुँल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोगसामान्य, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कारणात्: from the cause/reason
• कारणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• पुत्रः: a son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• भवतु: let (him) be / may (he) become
• भवतु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• भवान्: you (honored one)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific)

• पद्मयोनिः: Padma-yoni (lotus-born)
• पद्मयोनिः: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म-योनि (प्रातिपदिक; पद्म + योनि)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (padmasya yoniḥ)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातः: renowned/called
• ख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (is) renowned/called

• मत्-प्रिय-अर्थम्: for my dear purpose
• मत्-प्रिय-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् + प्रिय + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मत्प्रियस्य अर्थम् = for what is dear to me)

• जगत्-मय: O world-pervading one
• जगत्-मय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (जगत् यस्य मयम्/मयः = one who is pervaded by the world / world-formed)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as the Supreme Ishvara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Padmayoni)
• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Lord (Ishvara) as the purposeful cause of manifestation, directing Brahma’s creative role; the Self is implied as the governing source from whom cosmic functions proceed.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; its yogic implication is Ishvara-centric contemplation—seeing creation as proceeding from the Lord’s will, which supports devotion (bhakti) and one-pointedness (ekāgratā) in practice.

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

While Vishnu/Kurma speaks here, the Purana’s broader synthesis frames the Supreme as one Ishvara beyond sectarian division; Brahma’s role as creator is subordinate to that one divine sovereignty, compatible with Shaiva-Vaishnava non-dual theology.