Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 82

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

सो ऽहं ग्रसामि सकलमधिष्ठाय तमोगुणम् / कालो भूत्वा न तमसा मामन्यो ऽभिभविष्यति

Transliteration

so 'haṃ grasāmi sakalamadhiṣṭhāya tamoguṇam / kālo bhūtvā na tamasā māmanyo 'bhibhaviṣyati

Translation

Ta nuốt trọn toàn thể vũ trụ, ngự trị trên phẩm tính tamas. Khi đã trở thành chính Thời Gian, không ai có thể khuất phục Ta bằng bóng tối (tamas).

Word by Word

• सः: he, that (I)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Sg)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन (Nominative, Sg)

• ग्रसामि: I devour
• ग्रसामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gras (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (1st person, Sg)

• सकलम्: entire, all
• सकलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg)

• अधिष्ठाय: having presided over
• अधिष्ठाय: Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi + sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive), ‘having presided over/established’

• तमोगुणम्: the quality of darkness (tamas)
• तमोगुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘तमसः गुणः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Sg)

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Sg)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), ‘having become’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle/निषेध)

• तमसा: by darkness
• तमसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Sg)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन (Accusative, Sg)

• अन्यः: another (one)
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Sg)

• अभिभविष्यति: will overpower
• अभिभविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person, Sg)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as Ishvara, teaching the Ishvara Gita)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Ishvara
• Kala
• Tamas
• Guṇa-traya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Ishvara who assumes cosmic functions—especially Time (kāla) and dissolution—while remaining unassailable; even tamas, which overpowers beings, cannot overpower the Lord who governs it.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports guṇa-transcending contemplation: the yogin meditates on Ishvara as the inner ruler (adhiṣṭhātṛ) of tamas and as kāla, cultivating detachment from inertia, fear, and delusion—key to Pashupata-style mastery over the guṇas.

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

By describing the Supreme in universal Shaiva-Ishvara terms (Lord of Time, controller of guṇas) while spoken by Kurma (Vishnu), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the one Ishvara is praised through both Shaiva and Vaishnava theological language.