Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

मरीचिभृग्वङ्गिरसं पुलस्त्यं पुलहं क्रतुम् / दक्षमत्रिं वसिष्ठं च सो ऽसृजद् योगविद्यया

Transliteration

marīcibhṛgvaṅgirasaṃ pulastyaṃ pulahaṃ kratum / dakṣamatriṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca so 'sṛjad yogavidyayā

Translation

凭借瑜伽智力之威，他遂化生出摩利支（Marīci）、婆利古（Bhṛgu）、安祇罗（Aṅgiras）、普罗悉底耶（Pulastya）、普罗诃（Pulaha）、克罗都（Kratu）、达刹（Dakṣa）、阿底利（Atri）与婆悉吒（Vasiṣṭha）。

Word by Word

• मरीचि-भृगु-अङ्गिरसम्: Marīci, Bhṛgu, and Aṅgiras
• मरीचि-भृगु-अङ्गिरसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि + भृगु + अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक); components: मरीचि/भृगु/अङ्गिरस्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (समाहार/इतरेतर) used as a list-item (collective)

• पुलस्त्यम्: Pulastya
• पुलस्त्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुलहम्: Pulaha
• पुलहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्रतुम्: Kratu
• क्रतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दक्षम्: Dakṣa
• दक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अत्रिम्: Atri
• अत्रिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वसिष्ठम्: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• योगविद्यया: by yogic knowledge
• योगविद्यया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगविद्या (प्रातिपदिक); components: योग + विद्या
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: योगस्य विद्या

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic recitation tradition; contextually Vyāsa/Sūta-style narration describing cosmic creation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Marici
• Bhrigu
• Angiras
• Pulastya
• Pulaha
• Kratu
• Daksha
• Atri
• Vasistha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents creation as arising through yogavidyā—inner sovereign power—implying that the highest principle is not merely material causation but conscious, self-mastered intelligence capable of emanation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights yogavidyā as siddhi-like mastery: Yoga is treated as a disciplined spiritual science whose concentrated power can manifest effects, aligning with Purāṇic Yoga-shāstra themes later systematized in Pāśupata-oriented teachings.

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

By framing creation through yogic sovereignty rather than sectarian exclusivity, the text supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where the supreme Lord (whether addressed as Hari or Hara in broader context) operates through the same yogic, transcendent agency.