Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

अतीतान्यप्यसंख्यानि ब्रह्माण्डानि ममाज्ञया / प्रवृत्तानि पदार्थौघैः सहितानि समन्ततः

Transliteration

atītānyapyasaṃkhyāni brahmāṇḍāni mamājñayā / pravṛttāni padārthaughaiḥ sahitāni samantataḥ

Translation

Sa Aking kautusan, di-mabilang na mga brahmāṇḍa—maging yaong mula sa mga panahong lumipas—ay lumitaw sa pagpapakita, at napupuno sa lahat ng dako ng mga bugso ng nilikhang mga nilalang at mga antas ng pag-iral.

Word by Word

• अतीतानि: elapsed, past
• अतीतानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतीत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √इ (धातु) + अति-; भूतकृत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकालिक विशेषण (past/elapsed)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘also/even’

• असंख्यानि: innumerable
• असंख्यानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (innumerable)

• ब्रह्माण्डानि: cosmic eggs, universes
• ब्रह्माण्डानि: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—ब्रह्मणः अण्डम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (cosmic egg)

• मम: of me, my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (my/of me)

• आज्ञया: by (my) command
• आज्ञया: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन

• प्रवृत्तानि: set in motion, proceeded
• प्रवृत्तानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवृत्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √वृत् (धातु) + प्र-; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘set in motion/occurred’

• पदार्थौघैः: with masses of entities
• पदार्थौघैः: सहकारक/करण (Instrumental accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदार्थ + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—पदार्थानाम् ओघः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (stream/mass of entities)

• सहितानि: accompanied, together with
• सहितानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √सह् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘accompanied/combined’

• समन्ततः: on all sides, everywhere
• समन्ततः: अधिकरण (Adverbial locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘on all sides’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking as the Supreme Ishvara

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanda
• Ishvara (Lord Kurma/Vishnu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Ishvara whose mere command (ājñā) governs manifestation: the universes arise and operate not independently, but under a single transcendent ruler—implying the ultimate Self as the sovereign ground of all becoming.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is stated directly, but the verse supports Ishvara-dhyāna central to Purāṇic Yoga: contemplation of the Lord as the cosmic ordainer (niyantṛ), which stabilizes the mind by seeing all phenomena (padārthas) as proceeding from one divine governance.

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

By attributing cosmic creation to one Ishvara speaking as Lord Kurma, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology: the supreme divine authority behind creation is one, honored through Shaiva-Vaishnava unity rather than sectarian division.