Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

अनाद्यन्तमजं सूक्ष्मं त्रिगुणं प्रभवाप्ययम् / असांप्रतमविज्ञेयं ब्रह्माग्रे समवर्तत

Transliteration

anādyantamajaṃ sūkṣmaṃ triguṇaṃ prabhavāpyayam / asāṃpratamavijñeyaṃ brahmāgre samavartata

Translation

وہ برہمن بےآغاز و بےانتها، اَج (بےپیدائش)، لطیف، تری گُنوں سے متشکل، اور کائنات کے ظہور و فنا کا سبب ہے۔ فی الحال حواس سے ماورا اور ناقابلِ ادراک؛ برہما سے پہلے آغاز میں وہی موجود تھا۔

Word by Word

• anādi-antam: having no beginning and no end
• anādi-antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anādi + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (न आदि: अनादि; अनादि च अन्तश्च यस्य)

• ajam: unborn
• ajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sūkṣmam: subtle
• sūkṣmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tri-guṇam: of three qualities (guṇas)
• tri-guṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रयः गुणाः यस्य/त्रिगुण)

• prabhava-apyayam: (having) origin and dissolution
• prabhava-apyayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabhava + apyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (प्रभवश्च अप्ययश्च)

• asāṃpratam: not present to the senses / not immediate
• asāṃpratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asāṃprata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• avijñeyam: unknowable
• avijñeyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + vijñeya (प्रातिपदिक; √jñā धातु से कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'विज्ञेय' = ज्ञातव्य, न-प्रत्ययेन निषेधः

• brahma-agre: in the beginning (before Brahmā/at creation’s start)
• brahma-agre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: brahman + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (सप्तमी-अर्थे) = 'ब्रह्मणः अग्रे' (at the beginning of Brahmā/creation)

• samavartata: existed / came to be
• samavartata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (वृत् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्गः—सम् + अव

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the primordial Brahman within the Kurma Purana’s creation teaching

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Brahmā
• Guṇas (sattva-rajas-tamas)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme as Brahman: unborn, subtle, beyond sensory grasp, yet the ultimate ground of both creation (prabhava) and dissolution (apyaya). This supports a non-dual view where the Self is beginningless and not limited by time or embodiment.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies a yogic approach of inward discernment: since Brahman is “subtle” and “presently unknowable” to ordinary perception, realization requires purification of mind and disciplined contemplation (dhyāna) that transcends guṇa-driven cognition—an orientation consistent with Kurma Purana’s yoga-shāstra tone and later Pāśupata-inflected teachings.

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

By grounding everything in one beginningless Brahman that precedes even Brahmā, the text frames deity-forms (including Shiva and Vishnu) as expressions of the same supreme reality—supporting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis that emphasizes unity at the highest level.