Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Manvantaras, Indras, Saptarṣis, and the Seven Sustaining Manifestations; Vyāsa as Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

द्वितीया कालसंज्ञान्या तामसी शेषसंज्ञिता / निहन्ति सकलं चान्ते वैष्णवी परमा तनुः

Transliteration

dvitīyā kālasaṃjñānyā tāmasī śeṣasaṃjñitā / nihanti sakalaṃ cānte vaiṣṇavī paramā tanuḥ

Translation

第二种力量名为“时”（Kāla），属昏暗性（tāmasic），亦称“舍沙”（Śeṣa）。在终末之际，至上的毗湿奴女力之身（Vaiṣṇavī）将毁灭整个宇宙。

Word by Word

• dvitīyā: the second
• dvitīyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘second’ qualifying tanuḥ/mūrtiḥ understood

• kāla-saṃjñānyā: called ‘Time’
• kāla-saṃjñānyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक) + nya (ण्य) → saṃjñānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having the designation “Time”’

• tāmasī: tāmasic, dark
• tāmasī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘of tamas/dark’

• śeṣa-saṃjñitā: named Śeṣa
• śeṣa-saṃjñitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √jñā + sam + kta)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘named Śeṣa’

• nihanti: destroys
• nihanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-han (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• sakalam: the whole (all)
• sakalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ante: at the end
• ante: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘at the end’

• vaiṣṇavī: Vaiṣṇavī
• vaiṣṇavī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiṣṇavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘pertaining to Viṣṇu’

• paramā: supreme
• paramā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; superlative sense ‘supreme’

• tanuḥ: body/form
• tanuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages (contextual narration of cosmic functions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)
• Tamas
• Śeṣa
• Vaiṣṇavī Śakti (of Viṣṇu)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the Supreme as the governing divine power behind Time and dissolution—showing that cosmic ending is not chaos but the deliberate function of the supreme Vaiṣṇavī form, implying an intelligent, transcendent controller beyond changing phenomena.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is primarily metaphysical (kāla and pralaya), but it supports yogic detachment: contemplation of Time’s all-consuming power is used in Purāṇic Yoga to cultivate vairāgya (dispassion) and steadiness of mind oriented toward the supreme reality rather than transient worlds.

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

By presenting dissolution as a function of supreme divine power (śakti) rather than sectarian rivalry, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the same ultimate reality can be approached through Vaiṣṇava or Śaiva theological language, with cosmic functions integrated under one supreme principle.