Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

ये च प्रजानां पतयो मरीच्याद्या महर्षयः / सृजन्ति विविधं लोकं परस्यैव नियोगतः

Transliteration

ye ca prajānāṃ patayo marīcyādyā maharṣayaḥ / sṛjanti vividhaṃ lokaṃ parasyaiva niyogataḥ

Translation

اور مخلوقات کے سردار، مریچی وغیرہ مہارشی—وہ بھی صرف پرمیشور کے حکم ہی سے گوناگوں جہانوں کی تخلیق کرتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• ये: who (those)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun: who)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (conjunction: and)

• प्रजानाम्: of creatures/subjects
• प्रजानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पतयः: lords
• पतयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मरीच्याद्याः: beginning with Marīci
• मरीच्याद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मरीचि-आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मरीचिः आदिः येषां ते = beginning with Marīci)

• महर्षयः: great sages
• महर्षयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् ऋषिः)

• सृजन्ति: create
• सृजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• विविधम्: various
• विविधम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• लोकम्: world
• लोकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परस्य: of the Supreme
• परस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'पर' = परमेश्वर/श्रेष्ठ (the Supreme/other)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थ (particle: indeed/only)

• नियोगतः: by (His) command
• नियोगतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-प्रयोगे हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाव (ablatival adverb: from/according to injunction); पञ्चमी-एकवचन-आकार

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse voice, traditionally Sūta/authorial narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Marici
• Maharishis
• Prajapati
• Parama (Supreme Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the transcendent controller whose will (niyoga) empowers even the Prajāpatis; individual creators act as instruments rather than independent sources.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies īśvara-pranidhāna (devotional surrender): recognizing all power and agency as belonging to the Supreme, a key orientation for Pāśupata-style discipline and theistic Yoga.

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

By attributing creation to the single “Supreme” beyond secondary agents, it supports the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis where ultimate lordship is one, whether spoken of in Śaiva or Vaiṣṇava terms.