Shloka 36

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

एनमेके वदन्त्यग्निं नारायणमथापरे / इन्द्रमेके परे विश्वान् ब्रह्माणमपरे जगुः

Transliteration

enameke vadantyagniṃ nārāyaṇamathāpare / indrameke pare viśvān brahmāṇamapare jaguḥ

Translation

บางพวกเรียกพระองค์ว่าอัคนี บางพวกเรียกว่านารายณ์ บางพวกเรียกว่าอินทร์ บางพวกประกาศว่าพระองค์คือสากลจักรวาล และบางพวกกล่าวขานว่าพระองค์คือพรหมา.

Word by Word

• enam: him/this one
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• eke: some (people)
• eke: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vadanti: say/call
• vadanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट् (Present), पुरुषः प्रथम (3rd), वचनम् बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपदम्

• agnim: Agni
• agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• atha: and/then
• atha: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conj./particle: sequence)

• apare: others
• apare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• indram: Indra
• indram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• eke: some
• eke: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• pare: others
• pare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• viśvān: all (the gods)/the universals (as all)
• viśvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• apare: others
• apare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• jaguḥ: sang/declared
• jaguḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लिट् (Perfect), पुरुषः प्रथम (3rd), वचनम् बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in a syncretic Shaiva-Vaishnava frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Narayana
• Indra
• Vishva (the Universe)
• Brahma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents one Supreme Reality spoken of through multiple divine names and cosmic functions, implying that the one Self/Ishvara is grasped differently by different traditions while remaining essentially one.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a contemplative discipline of ekatva-darśana (seeing oneness): the yogin steadies the mind by recognizing that diverse deities and cosmic powers are expressions of a single Ishvara—an orientation consistent with Pāśupata-influenced devotion and inner concentration.

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

By allowing multiple supreme designations (including Nārāyaṇa and cosmic totality) without contradiction, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: sectarian names differ, but the supreme Lord is one—supporting Shiva–Vishnu non-opposition in essence.