Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28
Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time
निशम्य भगवान् वाक्यं शङ्करो धर्मवाहनः / स्वात्मना सद्शान् रुद्रान् ससर्ज मनसा शिवः / कपर्दिनो निरातङ्कांस्त्रिनेत्रान् नीललोहितान्
niśamya bhagavān vākyaṃ śaṅkaro dharmavāhanaḥ / svātmanā sadśān rudrān sasarja manasā śivaḥ / kapardino nirātaṅkāṃstrinetrān nīlalohitān
Nghe lời ấy, Đức Bhagavān Śaṅkara—Đấng lấy Dharma làm cỗ xe—Śiva, bằng uy lực của chính Tự Ngã, liền dùng tâm mà hóa hiện những Rudra đồng dạng với mình: tóc bện, vô úy, ba mắt, sắc xanh-đỏ.
Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta/primary narrator recounting events)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
By stating that Śiva creates “by his own Self” and “by mind alone,” the verse presents divine manifestation as arising from inner consciousness-power (ātma-śakti), not from external instruments—an Upaniṣadic-style view of creation through will (saṅkalpa).
While not prescribing a technique directly, the emphasis on mental creation (manasā) points to mastery of mind and will—key themes later systematized in Pāśupata-oriented discipline: inward concentration, sovereignty over mental modifications, and aligning intention with Dharma.
In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, divine functions manifest through complementary forms: this verse foregrounds Śiva’s emanative power while remaining compatible with the broader Purāṇic framework where the Supreme is one reality appearing as Śiva and Viṣṇu according to cosmic role.