Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवा ब्रह्मन् सर्गस्थित्यन्तहेतवः / विभज्यात्मानमेको ऽपि स्वेच्छया शङ्करः स्थितः

Transliteration

brahmaviṣṇuśivā brahman sargasthityantahetavaḥ / vibhajyātmānameko 'pi svecchayā śaṅkaraḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

噢，婆罗门啊，梵天、毗湿奴与湿婆，是创造、住持与终灭之因。然而主宰虽一，却安住为商羯罗（Śaṅkara），以自愿自在而自分自现。

Word by Word

• brahma-viṣṇu-śivāḥ: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva
• brahma-viṣṇu-śivāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); itaretara-dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• brahman: O Brahman
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarga-sthiti-anta-hetavaḥ: causes of creation, preservation, and dissolution
• sarga-sthiti-anta-hetavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarga (प्रातिपदिक) + sthiti (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘causes of creation, maintenance, and end’

• vibhajya: having divided
• vibhajya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्यय, here -ya = ल्यप्); ‘having divided’

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); reflexive object

• ekaḥ: one (alone)
• ekaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: even, also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• sva-icchayā: by his own will
• sva-icchayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘by (his) own will’

• śaṅkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṅkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sthitaḥ: remained, stood
• sthitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle used predicatively; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Shankara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as one Reality that can appear as multiple divine functions—creation, preservation, and dissolution—without losing its essential oneness; the many forms arise by the Lord’s own will.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-centered contemplation: meditation on the one Lord who manifests as the triad of cosmic functions, a theistic-nondual orientation aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-leaning devotion and inner recognition of one Ishvara.

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

It frames Śiva (Śaṅkara) and Viṣṇu not as competing absolutes but as expressions within a single supreme principle; the Purana’s synthesis treats their powers as unified under one Ishvara.