Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

इत्येष भगवान् ब्रह्मा स्त्रष्ट्वत्वे स व्यवस्थितः / अहं वै पालयामीदं संहरिष्यति शूलभृत्

Transliteration

ityeṣa bhagavān brahmā straṣṭvatve sa vyavasthitaḥ / ahaṃ vai pālayāmīdaṃ saṃhariṣyati śūlabhṛt

Translation

如是，具福的梵天安住于创造之职。我（毗湿奴）确实护持并维系此宇宙；而执三叉戟者（湿婆）将使之归于毁灭与融解。

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyopasaṃhāra (वाक्योपसंहार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भगवान्: the blessed/lordly
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्रष्टृत्वे: in the role of creator
• स्रष्टृत्वे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रष्टृत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; भाववाचक (state/role)

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

• व्यवस्थितः: is established; is stationed
• व्यवस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अव + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्थित/नियुक्त’ अर्थे

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पालयामि: I protect; I maintain
• पालयामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संहरिष्यति: will withdraw/destroy
• संहरिष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु) + सम् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शूलभृत्: the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूलभृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल-भृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: शूलं भर्तेति (one who bears a trident); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (as the Supreme narrator affirming the Trimūrti functions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Trimurti
• Shulabhrit

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents one supreme governance of the cosmos expressed through differentiated functions—creation (Brahmā), preservation (Viṣṇu), and dissolution (Śiva)—implying a single divine order manifesting as the Trimūrti.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; its yogic relevance is doctrinal—supporting contemplative insight into īśvara’s cosmic functions, a basis for devotion (bhakti) and steady meditation on the Lord as sustainer (pālana).

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

It frames Śiva and Viṣṇu as complementary within one cosmic administration—Viṣṇu sustains while Śiva dissolves—supporting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis rather than rivalry.