Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

सर्वासामेव शक्तीनां ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः / प्राधान्येन स्मृता देवाः शक्तयः परमात्मनः

Transliteration

sarvāsāmeva śaktīnāṃ brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ / prādhānyena smṛtā devāḥ śaktayaḥ paramātmanaḥ

Translation

在一切神圣力量之中，梵天、毗湿奴与大自在天（摩醯首罗）被忆念为最为尊胜；诚然，这些天神乃至上我（Paramātman）的卓越“沙克蒂”（śakti，运作之力）。

Word by Word

• sarvāsām: of all
• sarvāsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• śaktīnām: of powers/energies
• śaktīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• brahma-viṣṇu-maheśvarāḥ: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara
• brahma-viṣṇu-maheśvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• prādhānyena: by predominance/primarily
• prādhānyena: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prādhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• smṛtāḥ: are regarded/remembered
• smṛtāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि भावः (being considered/remembered)

• devāḥ: gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śaktayaḥ: powers/energies
• śaktayaḥ: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• paramātmanaḥ: of the Supreme Self
• paramātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the sages/Indradyumna on the nature of the Supreme and His powers

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Maheshvara (Shiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Paramātman as the single supreme reality whose operative powers manifest prominently as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara—indicating unity of source with diversity of functions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is primarily doctrinal rather than procedural: it supports meditation on one Paramātman expressed through the Trimūrti, a useful contemplative frame in Paurāṇic Yoga where devotion and insight converge on a single supreme principle.

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

Śiva (Maheśvara) and Viṣṇu are portrayed as principal śaktis of the same Paramātman, reinforcing a non-sectarian, integrative theology rather than rivalry between deities.