Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

एष धाता विधाता च प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः / यं प्रपश्यन्ति यतयो ब्रह्मभावेन भाविताः

Transliteration

eṣa dhātā vidhātā ca pradhānapuruṣeśvaraḥ / yaṃ prapaśyanti yatayo brahmabhāvena bhāvitāḥ

Translation

他是持世者与安立者——为主宰原质（Pradhāna）与灵知（Puruṣa）之自在。诸修行者以梵境熏习其心，便能真实观见于他。

Word by Word

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धाता: creator/sustainer
• धाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: तृच्-प्रत्यय (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विधाता: ordainer/creator
• विधाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: तृच्-प्रत्यय, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: वि-

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः: Lord of Pradhāna and Puruṣa
• प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान + पुरुष + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pradhānasya puruṣasya īśvaraḥ)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• प्रपश्यन्ति: behold/see
• प्रपश्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• यतयः: ascetics
• यतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मभावेन: by/with the state of Brahman
• ब्रह्मभावेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (brahmaṇaḥ bhāvaḥ)

• भाविताः: imbued/filled (with)
• भाविताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of यतयः)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Brahman
• Pradhana
• Purusha
• Yatis (Yogins/Ascetics)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Īśvara who transcends yet governs both Pradhāna (Nature) and Puruṣa (Spirit), and who is realized as Brahman through direct yogic vision rather than mere concept.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes brahma-bhāva—cultivating Brahman-consciousness—implying sustained meditation, inner purification, and steady contemplative absorption by which yatis gain pratyakṣa-like spiritual “seeing” of the Lord.

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

By describing one Īśvara as the lord of both matter and spirit and as Brahman realized by yogins, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the Supreme (spoken by Kurma/Vishnu) aligns with the Shaiva-Pashupata vision of one ultimate Lord.