Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

श्रीकूर्म उवाच महेश्वरः परो ऽव्यक्तश्चतुर्व्यूहः सनातनः / अनन्तश्चाप्रमेयश्च नियन्ता विश्वतोमुखः

Transliteration

śrīkūrma uvāca maheśvaraḥ paro 'vyaktaścaturvyūhaḥ sanātanaḥ / anantaścāprameyaśca niyantā viśvatomukhaḥ

Translation

圣龟说道：“大自在天（摩诃伊湿伐罗）为至上者——不显（阿毗耶迦多）、常住，以四重神圣流出（四毗优诃）而示现；无尽不可量，为内在的统御者，面向十方（遍在一切）。”

Word by Word

• श्रीकूर्मः: Śrī-Kūrma
• श्रीकूर्मः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: श्रीमान् कूर्मः

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महेश्वरः: the Great Lord
• महेश्वरः: कर्ता/विशेष्य (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (महान् ईश्वरः)

• परः: supreme
• परः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (महेश्वरस्य)

• अव्यक्तः: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (व्यक्तस्य अभावः)

• चतुर्व्यूहः: having four emanational forms (vyūhas)
• चतुर्व्यूहः: विशेष्य/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्-व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: चत्वारः व्यूहाः यस्य सः

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनन्तः: endless, infinite
• अनन्तः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अप्रमेयः: immeasurable, inconceivable
• अप्रमेयः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रमेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• नियन्ता: controller, regulator
• नियन्ता: विशेष्य/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि-यम् (धातु) → नियन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक तृच्-प्रत्यय (agent noun)

• विश्वतोमुखः: facing everywhere, all-faced
• विश्वतोमुखः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वतः-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: विश्वतः (everywhere) + मुख (face) = 'having faces everywhere'

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) as narrator/teacher

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma
• Mahēśvara
• Vyūha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as transcendent and unmanifest (avyakta), yet as the inner controller (niyantā) pervading all directions—pointing to a reality beyond limitation that still governs and supports all beings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Īśvara-centered meditation: contemplate the Lord as unmanifest and immeasurable, yet present everywhere as the inner ruler—an orientation consistent with Purāṇic Yoga and theistic contemplation used in Pāśupata-leaning practice.

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

By having Kūrma speak of Mahēśvara in supreme terms and using shared theological language (supreme, unmanifest, omnipresent), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where the one Supreme is praised through both Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms.