Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3
Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya
कुतः सर्वमिदं जातं कस्मिंश्च लयमेष्यति / नियन्ता कश्च सर्वेषां वदस्व पुरुषोत्तम
kutaḥ sarvamidaṃ jātaṃ kasmiṃśca layameṣyati / niyantā kaśca sarveṣāṃ vadasva puruṣottama
“Tất cả những điều này phát sinh từ đâu, và cuối cùng sẽ tan nhập vào đâu? Ai là đấng điều ngự của muôn loài? Xin hãy nói cho chúng tôi, ô Puruṣottama (Đấng Tối Thượng).”
A questioning sage addressing Lord Kurma (Vishnu) as Puruṣottama
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames the central Vedantic inquiry: the ultimate source (origin), final ground (dissolution), and governing principle (niyantā) of the cosmos—pointing toward one Supreme Reality as the inner ruler behind all phenomena.
This verse highlights the preparatory yogic stance of jijñāsā (spiritual inquiry). In the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching style, such inquiry leads into disciplined meditation and devotion to the Supreme Lord as the controller and inner guide.
By addressing the Supreme as Puruṣottama and asking about the single controller of all, the verse supports the Purana’s integrative theology: the highest Lord is one, revered through Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms without contradiction.