Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

शान्ता घोराश्च मूढाश्च विशेषास्तेन ते स्मृताः / परस्परानुप्रवेशाद् धारयन्ति परस्परम्

Transliteration

śāntā ghorāśca mūḍhāśca viśeṣāstena te smṛtāḥ / parasparānupraveśād dhārayanti parasparam

Translation

اسی لیے وہ حالتیں—پُرسکون، ہولناک اور مُوھ—کے نام سے یاد کی جاتی ہیں؛ اور باہمی درونیت کے سبب وہ ایک دوسرے کو سنبھالتی ہیں۔

Word by Word

• śāntāḥ: peaceful
• śāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक; √śam + kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; adjective ‘peaceful’

• ghorāḥ: terrible
• ghorāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• mūḍhāḥ: deluded/dull
• mūḍhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūḍha (प्रातिपदिक; √muh + kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• viśeṣāḥ: distinct states/particularities
• viśeṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• tena: by that/therefore
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napuṃ, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; instrumental pronoun

• te: they/those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; demonstrative pronoun

• smṛtāḥ: are termed/are remembered as
• smṛtāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (स्मृ—धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; passive sense ‘are called/are remembered’

• paraspara-anupraveśāt: from mutual interpenetration
• paraspara-anupraveśāt: Apādāna/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक) + anu-praveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: parasparasya anupraveśaḥ = mutual interpenetration) used as ablative cause

• dhārayanti: support/hold
• dhārayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धृ—धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• parasparam: one another
• parasparam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-like accusative (द्वितीया-एकवचन) used adverbially; reciprocal sense

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages (Kaurma teaching context on guṇas)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma
• Guṇas (Sattva-Rajas-Tamas)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing peaceful, fierce, and deluded modes as mutually interpenetrating, the verse implies these are qualities of prakṛti (nature) rather than the Atman; the Self is understood as the witness beyond the guṇas even while their mixtures shape experience.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports guṇa-viveka (discernment of the guṇas): a yogin observes how sattva, rajas, and tamas blend and uphold one another in mind and conduct, then cultivates sattva for clarity and steadiness as a basis for higher meditation.

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

Indirectly: by grounding teaching in shared Yoga-Sāṅkhya metaphysics, the Purāṇa presents a common doctrinal field in which both Śaiva (e.g., Pāśupata) and Vaiṣṇava paths can interpret guṇas as cosmic functions under one supreme reality.