Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 25

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

चतुर्विंशकमव्यक्तं प्रधानं गुणलक्षणम् / अनादिमध्यनिधनं कारणं जगतः परम्

Transliteration

caturviṃśakamavyaktaṃ pradhānaṃ guṇalakṣaṇam / anādimadhyanidhanaṃ kāraṇaṃ jagataḥ param

Translation

Pradhāna vô hiển (avyakta), mang dấu ấn của các guṇa, là nguyên lý thứ hai mươi bốn. Nó không có khởi đầu, không có giữa, không có tận cùng, và là nền nhân tối thượng của vũ trụ.

Word by Word

• चतुर्विंशकम्: the set of twenty-four
• चतुर्विंशकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्विंशक (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + विंशति)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्रधानम्/चतुर्विंशकम्)

• प्रधानम्: Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गुणलक्षणम्: having the guṇas as its mark
• गुणलक्षणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुणानां लक्षणम् = characterized by guṇas)

• अनादि-मध्य-निधनम्: without beginning, with middle, and with end
• अनादि-मध्य-निधनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि + मध्य + निधन (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (beginningless, with middle, and with end)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme/ultimate
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कारणम्)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages (Sāṅkhya-style cosmological teaching within the Purva-bhāga narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pradhana
• Gunas
• Avyakta
• Jagat

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse primarily defines Pradhāna (Prakṛti) as the unmanifest, guṇa-constituted causal ground of cosmic evolution; by implication in Purāṇic synthesis, the Self/Iśvara stands distinct from yet sovereign over this causal Nature.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is prescribed in this line; it supplies the contemplative framework used in Yoga—discriminating the unmanifest guṇa-based Prakṛti from the seer/knower—supporting viveka (discernment) that later matures into disciplined meditation.

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

The verse itself is cosmological (Pradhāna/guṇas) rather than sectarian; in the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, such Sāṅkhya categories are presented as shared doctrinal ground under the one supreme Lord revered as both Hari and Hara.