Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Cosmic Night, Nārāyaṇa as Brahmā, and the Varāha Raising of the Earth

Devanagari script

त्वयैव सृष्टमखिलं त्वय्येव लयमेष्यति / पालयैतज्जगत् सर्वं त्राता त्वं शरणं गति

Transliteration

tvayaiva sṛṣṭamakhilaṃ tvayyeva layameṣyati / pālayaitajjagat sarvaṃ trātā tvaṃ śaraṇaṃ gati

Translation

此一切宇宙唯由汝独自所创，终亦唯归于汝而融没。愿汝护持此整个世界；汝为救度者、归依处与至上归趣。

Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), द्वितीयपुरुष (2nd person), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• सृष्टम्: created
• सृष्टम्: कर्म (Object; ‘created’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• अखिलम्: entire/all
• अखिलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• त्वयि: in you
• त्वयि: अधिकरण (Locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), द्वितीयपुरुष (2nd person), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• लयम्: dissolution
• लयम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• एष्यति: will go/attain
• एष्यति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• पालय: protect
• पालय: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• त्राता: protector/savior
• त्राता: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), द्वितीयपुरुष (2nd person), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: सम्बन्ध (Predicate/Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicate noun)

• गतिः: goal/way
• गतिः: सम्बन्ध (Predicate/Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicate noun)

Speaker

A devotee (addressing Lord Hari/Kūrma as the Supreme Lord)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Narayana
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the single ground of origination and dissolution—implying one ultimate Reality in which the cosmos arises, is sustained, and into which it resolves.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and one-pointed God-centered contemplation—foundational attitudes that support dhyāna and disciplined practice in the Kurma Purana’s yogic-ethical framework.

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

By addressing the Supreme as the sole creator-protector-dissolver, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where ultimate Ishvara transcends sectarian division, allowing Shaiva and Vaishnava names to point to the same highest Reality.