Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

ततः प्रहस्य भगवान् ब्रह्मा वेदनिधिः प्रभुः / प्रत्युवाचाम्बुजाभाक्षं सस्मितं श्लक्ष्णया गिरा

Transliteration

tataḥ prahasya bhagavān brahmā vedanidhiḥ prabhuḥ / pratyuvācāmbujābhākṣaṃ sasmitaṃ ślakṣṇayā girā

Translation

Bấy giờ, Đức Thế Tôn Brahmā—bậc Chúa Tể, kho tàng của các Veda—mỉm cười và, bằng lời nói dịu dàng đầy ân hậu, đáp lại Đấng mắt như hoa sen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रम-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘then/from that’)

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having laughed’

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ब्रह्मा इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• वेदनिधिः: treasure of the Vedas
• वेदनिधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vedānāṃ nidhiḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ब्रह्मा इत्यस्य विशेषण

• प्रभुः: the lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ब्रह्मा इत्यस्य विशेषण

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अम्बुजाभाक्षम्: to the lotus-eyed one
• अम्बुजाभाक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुज + आभ + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (ambuje ābhā yasyākṣī / ambuja-ābha-akṣa: lotus-like-eyed), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; प्रत्युवाच इत्यस्य कर्म (addressed person)

• सस्मितम्: smiling
• सस्मितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + स्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सह-तत्पुरुष (with a smile), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अम्बुजाभाक्षम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• श्लक्ष्णया: gentle
• श्लक्ष्णया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; गिरा इत्यस्य विशेषण

• गिरा: with speech/words
• गिरा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर्/गिरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (describing Brahmā replying to the lotus-eyed Lord, i.e., Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vedas
• Narayana (lotus-eyed Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by portraying Nārāyaṇa as the revered “lotus-eyed” divine addressee and Brahmā as Veda-authority, the verse frames the forthcoming teaching as rooted in the Supreme principle acknowledged through Vedic wisdom.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is stated in this verse; it functions as a transition into instruction. The gentle, composed reply signals an upadeśa-setting typical of Purāṇic yoga-teachings (later elaborated as discipline, devotion, and knowledge in Kurma Purana contexts).

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

By having Brahmā respectfully address the lotus-eyed Lord, it establishes a shared theological space where Vedic authority and divine sovereignty converge—supporting the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava harmony that later accommodates non-dual readings.