Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माण्डमेतत् सकलं सप्तलोकतलान्वितम् / द्वितीयं तस्य देवस्य शरीरं परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

brahmāṇḍametat sakalaṃ saptalokatalānvitam / dvitīyaṃ tasya devasya śarīraṃ parameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

此整个梵卵（brahmāṇḍa），具足七界诸世与下方诸层，被称为那位至上神圣主——大造化者帕拉梅什提因（Parameṣṭhin）的第二身。

Word by Word

• brahmāṇḍam: the Brahmā-egg (cosmic egg)
• brahmāṇḍam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + aṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: brahmaṇaḥ aṇḍam

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana; qualifying brahmāṇḍam

• sakalam: entire/whole
• sakalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana; qualifying brahmāṇḍam

• sapta-loka-tala-anvitam: endowed with the seven worlds and nether regions
• sapta-loka-tala-anvitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta + loka + tala + anvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: sapta-lokatalaiḥ anvitam (endowed with seven world-levels)

• dvitīyam: second
• dvitīyam: Karta-anuguṇa (कर्तृअनुगुण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana; predicate adjective of śarīram

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Ekavacana

• devasya: of the god
• devasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Ekavacana

• śarīram: body
• śarīram: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana

• parameṣṭhinaḥ: of Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā)
• parameṣṭhinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor; apposition to devasya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Ekavacana

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (frame-narration context of the Kurma Purana’s cosmological teaching)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmāṇḍa
• Parameṣṭhin
• Sapta-loka
• Tala

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the cosmos itself as a “body” of the divine principle, implying that the Supreme is not separate from the manifested universe but pervades and upholds it as its embodied expression.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative meditation on the cosmic form—training the mind to perceive all lokas and talas as pervaded by Īśvara—an approach compatible with Purāṇic dhyāna and later Pāśupata-oriented theism where the Lord is realized as immanent and transcendent.

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

By describing the universe as the “body” of the one divine Lord (Īśvara), it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the supreme reality praised as Vishnu (Kurma) is also the cosmic Īśvara revered in Shaiva theology.