Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

बृहत्त्वाच्च स्मृतो ब्रह्मा परत्वात् परमेश्वरः / वशित्वादप्यवश्यत्वादीश्वरः परिभाषितः

Transliteration

bṛhattvācca smṛto brahmā paratvāt parameśvaraḥ / vaśitvādapyavaśyatvādīśvaraḥ paribhāṣitaḥ

Translation

因其广大无边，祂被忆念为“梵摩(Brahmā)”；因其超越一切，祂被称为“至上主(Parameśvara)”。又因祂具足主宰之权能，永不受他者支配，故被界定为“自在天(Īśvara)”。

Word by Word

• bṛhattvāt: Due to greatness/expansiveness
• bṛhattvāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• ca: And
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• smṛtaḥ: Remembered/Called
• smṛtaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• brahmā: Brahma
• brahmā: Karma (Object/कर्म) in passive sense
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• paratvāt: Due to supremacy/transcendence
• paratvāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paratva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• parameśvaraḥ: Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) in passive sense
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (parama + īśvara)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vaśitvāt: Due to power of control
• vaśitvāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśitva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• api: Also/Even
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/Particle

• avaśyatvāt: Due to not being subject to control
• avaśyatvāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avaśyatva (a-vaśya-tva)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• īśvaraḥ: The Lord/Controller
• īśvaraḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) in passive sense
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• paribhāṣitaḥ: Defined/Explained
• paribhāṣitaḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया) equivalent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu), teaching the sages (Kurma Purana doctrinal exposition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (as an epithet of the Supreme)
• Parameśvara
• Īśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It characterizes the Supreme as all-pervading (bṛhattva), transcendent (paratva), and absolutely independent—never ruled by anything else—thus indicating an ultimate reality that is both immanent and beyond, the ground of all beings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is listed, but the verse supplies a key Yogic contemplation: meditate on Īśvara as the independent sovereign (īśitṛ) who is never conditioned—supporting īśvara-praṇidhāna (devotional concentration on the Lord) as a stabilizing focus in Yoga-shastra.

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

By defining the Supreme through titles like Parameśvara and Īśvara without sectarian limitation, the Kurma Purana frames lordship and transcendence as one reality—compatible with its Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where the highest Lord is approached through shared divine attributes.