Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा वेदविदुषं मण्डलस्थं सनातनम् / स्वयंभुवमनाद्यन्तं ब्रह्माणं विस्मयं गतः

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vedaviduṣaṃ maṇḍalasthaṃ sanātanam / svayaṃbhuvamanādyantaṃ brahmāṇaṃ vismayaṃ gataḥ

Translation

见到他——自生的梵天，通达吠陀，安住于神圣曼荼罗之中，常住不灭、无始无终——他顿时生起深深的惊异。

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), 'having seen'

• वेदविदुषम्: the knower of the Vedas
• वेदविदुषम्: कर्म (Karma; apposition to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + विद्वस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मण्डलस्थम्: situated in the orb
• मण्डलस्थम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मण्डल-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; मण्डल + स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वयंभुवम्: self-born
• स्वयंभुवम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ब्रह्माणम्/तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वयं-भू (प्रातिपदिक; स्वयं + भू)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनाद्यन्तम्: without beginning and end
• अनाद्यन्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक; अनादि + अन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: कर्म (Karma; object of दृष्ट्वा understood)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: गति/कर्म (Goal/object with गतः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गतः: went/entered (became)
• गतः: कर्ता (Karta; implied subject e.g., (सः) )
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; used predicatively

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the seer’s reaction upon beholding Brahmā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Vedas
• Maṇḍala

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing Brahmā as “without beginning and end” and “eternal,” the verse points to a timeless principle behind manifestation; in Kurma Purana theology this ultimately gestures beyond the creator-form to the unbounded divine reality that creation depends upon.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The image of Brahmā “situated in a maṇḍala” evokes contemplative visualization—seeing the deity in a sacred inner sphere—consistent with Purāṇic dhyāna practices that stabilize the mind through form, mantra, and cosmic symbolism.

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

While Shiva and Vishnu are not named here, the verse reflects the Purana’s integrative approach: the creator (Brahmā) is presented with transcendent attributes, aligning with the text’s broader tendency to see divine functions (creation, preservation, dissolution) as expressions of one supreme reality honored through both Shaiva and Vaishnava lenses.