Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

स एव मूलप्रकृतिः प्रधानं पुरुषो ऽपि च / विकारा महदादीनि देवदेवः सनातनः

Transliteration

sa eva mūlaprakṛtiḥ pradhānaṃ puruṣo 'pi ca / vikārā mahadādīni devadevaḥ sanātanaḥ

Translation

Siya lamang ang Ugat-Kalikasan (mūla-prakṛti), ang Pradhāna, at siya rin ang Puruṣa; ang mga pagbabagong nagsisimula sa Mahat ay Kanyang mga pagbabagong-anyo. Siya ang walang hanggang Diyos ng mga diyos.

Word by Word

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मूल-प्रकृतिः: root-nature
• मूल-प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• प्रधानम्: pradhāna (the primal principle)
• प्रधानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पुरुषः: puruṣa (spirit/person)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (also/even)

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

• विकाराः: modifications/evolutes
• विकाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन

• महत्-आदीनि: (things) beginning with mahat
• महत्-आदीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘mahat etc.’)

• देव-देवः: God of gods
• देव-देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘of gods’ देवः)

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in a synthesis of Sāṅkhya and theistic Purāṇic doctrine

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Prakriti
• Pradhana
• Purusha
• Mahat
• Devadeva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as both Puruṣa (pure consciousness) and the ground of Prakṛti/Pradhāna, indicating a theistic non-dual stance where the ultimate reality is the single source of both consciousness and cosmic manifestation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is primarily metaphysical: it supports contemplative practice by directing meditation to the one Devadeva as the source of Prakṛti, Puruṣa, and the tattvas (Mahat and onward), a foundational view used in Kurma Purana-style devotion and Pāśupata-oriented inner discernment (viveka).

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

By naming the Supreme as Devadeva and as the unified source of Puruṣa and Prakṛti, it aligns with the Purāṇa’s synthetic theology where sectarian boundaries soften—one supreme Lord is praised in forms associated with both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms.