Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time

Devanagari script

वयांसि वयसः सृष्ट्वा अवयो वक्षसो ऽसृजत् / मुखतो ऽजान् ससर्जान्यान् उदराद्गाश्चनिर्ममे

Transliteration

vayāṃsi vayasaḥ sṛṣṭvā avayo vakṣaso 'sṛjat / mukhato 'jān sasarjānyān udarādgāścanirmame

Translation

他从岁月的流转中化生群鸟，又从自身胸前生出绵羊。由其口中生出山羊及诸类众生，并从其腹中塑成群牛。

Word by Word

• वयांसि: birds
• वयांसि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयांस्/वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• वयसः: from the age/season (vayas)
• वयसः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• सृष्ट्वा: having created
• सृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having created’

• अवयः: sheep
• अवयः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• वक्षसः: from the chest
• वक्षसः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुखतः: from the mouth
• मुखतः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुखतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘from the mouth’

• अजान्: goats
• अजान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• ससर्ज: created
• ससर्ज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अन्यान्: other (ones)
• अन्यान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (implied: animals)

• उदरात्: from the belly
• उदरात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• निर्ममे: fashioned/formed
• निर्ममे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+मा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse describing cosmic creation; traditionally mediated through Vyāsa/Sūta style narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Creator (Prajāpati/Hiraṇyagarbha/Brahmā as the embodied source)
• birds
• sheep
• goats
• cows

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing creation as emerging from a single cosmic source-body, the verse points to an underlying unity: multiplicity of beings arises from one principle, reflecting the Purāṇic view that the many depend upon the One (ātman/īśvara) as their ground.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is prescribed in this verse; its yogic value is contemplative—encouraging meditation on the cosmos as a manifestation of the one divine reality, a common foundation for later Kurma Purana teachings on devotion (bhakti), discipline (niyama), and Pāśupata-oriented inner worship.

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

While not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu directly, the imagery of a single divine source generating all beings aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the supreme reality is one, approached through different divine names and forms without contradiction.