Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 54

Naimittika-pralaya and the Theology of Kāla: Seven Suns, Saṃvartaka Fire, Flood, and Varāha Kalpa

Devanagari script

अहं पुराणपुरुषो भूर्भुवः प्रभवो विभुः / सहस्रचरणः श्रीमान् सहस्रांशुः सहस्रदृक्

Transliteration

ahaṃ purāṇapuruṣo bhūrbhuvaḥ prabhavo vibhuḥ / sahasracaraṇaḥ śrīmān sahasrāṃśuḥ sahasradṛk

Translation

میں پُران پُرش ہوں—بھُو اور بھُوَہ کا سرچشمہ اور ہمہ گیر رب؛ میں ہزار قدموں والا، صاحبِ شری، ہزار کرنوں والا اور ہزار آنکھوں والا ہوں۔

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुराणपुरुषः: the primeval person
• पुराणपुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘पुराणः पुरुषः’ इति कर्मधारय

• भूः: earth (Bhū)
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भुवः: mid-region (Bhuvaḥ)
• भुवः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वेदिक-रूप; ‘भुवः’ as nominative)

• प्रभवः: source; origin
• प्रभवः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + भू (धातु)
• Form: प्र-उपसर्गपूर्वक ‘भू’ धातोः घञ्/अच्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव/कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विभुः: all-pervading; mighty
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सहस्रचरणः: having a thousand feet
• सहस्रचरणः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सहस्राणि चरणानि यस्य’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः, परन्तु रूपतः संख्यापूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (सहस्र-चरण)

• श्रीमान्: glorious; endowed with splendor
• श्रीमान्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (‘possessing’)

• सहस्रांशुः: thousand-rayed
• सहस्रांशुः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सहस्राः अंशवः/किरणाः यस्य’ (thousand-rayed)

• सहस्रदृक्: thousand-seeing; thousand-eyed
• सहस्रदृक्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + दृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सहस्रं दर्शनं/दृष्टिः यस्य’ (thousand-eyed/seeing)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in a cosmic, Purusha-style self-revelation (Ishvara-stuti tone)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Purāṇa-Puruṣa
• Bhū-loka
• Bhuvar-loka
• Śrī (Lakṣmī as auspicious power)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the Purāṇa-Puruṣa: the all-pervading origin of the worlds, described through cosmic-body imagery (thousand feet, eyes, rays) to indicate limitless awareness, power, and immanence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports īśvara-dhyāna (meditation on the Lord’s cosmic form): contemplating the all-seeing, all-pervading Puruṣa stabilizes the mind and aligns with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and disciplined concentration on the supreme controller.

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

By using a Puruṣa/Īśvara idiom common to both Shaiva and Vaishnava theology, it frames the Supreme as one reality expressed through multiple divine modes—supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis.