Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

योगेश्वरः शरीराणि करोति विकरोति च / नानाकृतिक्रियारूपनामवन्ति स्वलीलया

Transliteration

yogeśvaraḥ śarīrāṇi karoti vikaroti ca / nānākṛtikriyārūpanāmavanti svalīlayā

Translation

瑜伽之主令诸身得生，亦复变易；以其神圣的戏乐（līlā），使之具足种种形相、作为、显现与名号。

Word by Word

• योगेश्वरः: the Lord of Yoga
• योगेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (योगस्य ईश्वरः)

• शरीराणि: bodies
• शरीराणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• करोति: makes/creates
• करोति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• विकरोति: modifies/transforms
• विकरोति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः वि-

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/विविधता-वाचक (adverbial: various)

• आकृति: form
• आकृति: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (as compound-member), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• क्रिया: action
• क्रिया: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (as compound-member), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• रूप: appearance
• रूप: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (as compound-member), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• नाम: name
• नाम: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (as compound-member), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• वन्ति: possess/assume
• वन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• स्वलीलया: by his own play
• स्वलीलया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument or means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वा लीला)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis about Īśvara’s lordship over manifestation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Yogeśvara
• Īśvara (Supreme Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Īśvara as the sovereign principle who manifests embodied existence—creating and transforming bodies—while remaining the free, self-willed controller whose līlā accounts for the diversity of names and forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds Yogeśvara—the Lord presiding over yoga—implying that yogic insight should contemplate the Lord as the inner governor of embodiment and change, cultivating detachment from mere nāma-rūpa while recognizing divine order in transformation.

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

By emphasizing a single Īśvara (Yogeśvara) who governs creation and transformation, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance where the one Lord is praised through both Shaiva and Vaishnava theological language.