Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38
Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode
यस्य सा तामसी मूर्तिः शङ्करो राजसी तनुः / ब्रह्मा संजायते विष्णुरंशेनैकेन सत्त्वभृत्
yasya sā tāmasī mūrtiḥ śaṅkaro rājasī tanuḥ / brahmā saṃjāyate viṣṇuraṃśenaikena sattvabhṛt
由彼而有：体现昏暗（tamas）之相为商羯罗（Śaṅkara）；具激动（rajas）之身为梵天（Brahmā）；而毗湿奴，承持清明（sattva）者，则从那至上者的一分而生。
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) speaking to the sages (as part of Purāṇic instruction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents the Supreme as one reality that manifests functionally through guṇa-conditioned forms—creation, sustenance, and dissolution—without implying an ultimate separation in essence.
While not prescribing a technique directly, it supports guṇa-viveka (discernment of sattva, rajas, tamas) as a contemplative framework used in Yoga and Purāṇic sādhanā to transcend guṇa-bound identity and realize the Supreme source.
Śaṅkara and Viṣṇu are shown as manifestations of the one Supreme through different guṇic functions—dissolution/tamas and sustenance/sattva—supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.