Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Prākṛta Sṛṣṭi and Pralaya: From Pradhāna to Brahmāṇḍa; Trimūrti Samanvaya

Devanagari script

सर्वज्ञाः शान्तरजसो नित्यं मुदितमानसाः / एतैरावरणैरण्डं सप्तभिः प्राकृतैर्वृतम्

Transliteration

sarvajñāḥ śāntarajaso nityaṃ muditamānasāḥ / etairāvaraṇairaṇḍaṃ saptabhiḥ prākṛtairvṛtam

Translation

彼等全知，已息灭罗阇斯（rajas）之躁动，心恒安宁喜悦。贤圣如是说：宇宙之卵（aṇḍa）为这七重原质（prakṛti）之覆障所围裹。

Word by Word

• sarva-jñāḥ: all-knowing
• sarva-jñāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya: sarve jñāḥ (all-knowing)

• śānta-rajasāḥ: with rajas stilled
• śānta-rajasāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: śāntaṃ rajaḥ yeṣām (whose rajas is calmed)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla (काल/Time adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: Avyaya (adverbial accusative); kāla-avyaya (always)

• mudita-mānasāḥ: joyful-minded
• mudita-mānasāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudita + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: muditaṃ mānasaṃ yeṣām (whose minds are joyful)

• etaiḥ: by these
• etaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga (Masc/Neut), Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• āvaraṇaiḥ: by coverings/envelopes
• āvaraṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• aṇḍam: the cosmic egg
• aṇḍam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc, 1st/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); here with vṛtam → Dvitīyā (Acc)

• saptabhiḥ: with seven
• saptabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); numeral adjective

• prākṛtaiḥ: material/prakṛtic
• prākṛtaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga (Masc/Neut), Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• vṛtam: covered/enclosed
• vṛtam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vṛ (वृञ्/धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle; Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana; predicate agreeing with aṇḍam

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the cosmological teaching as transmitted by sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmāṇḍa
• Prakṛti
• Avaraṇa (seven coverings)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By highlighting the pacification of rajas and the steady, joyful mind of the knowers, the verse implies that true knowledge aligns with inner stillness—an Atman-centered vision that is not shaken by material agitation, even while describing the material cosmos.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key yogic marker is śānta-rajas—stilling the rajasic drive through discipline, contemplation, and inward absorption; this supports the Kurma Purana’s broader emphasis on yogic equanimity as the basis for right knowledge of tattvas (principles) like prakṛti and the cosmic enclosures.

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

Though not naming them directly, the verse reflects the Purana’s synthesis: cosmology is taught alongside yogic inner purification, a shared Shaiva-Vaishnava framework where realization (stilling rajas) is valued above sectarian difference.