Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 11

Rudra’s Cosmic Dance and the Recognition of Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity (Īśvara-gītā Continuation)

Devanagari script

अण्डस्थं चाण्डबाह्यस्थं बाह्यमभ्यन्तरं परम् / सृजन्तमनलज्वालं दहन्तमखिलं जगत् / नृत्यन्तं ददृशुर्देवं विश्वकर्माणमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

aṇḍasthaṃ cāṇḍabāhyasthaṃ bāhyamabhyantaraṃ param / sṛjantamanalajvālaṃ dahantamakhilaṃ jagat / nṛtyantaṃ dadṛśurdevaṃ viśvakarmāṇamīśvaram

Translation

他们得见天神——自在天（Īśvara）、毗湿伐羯磨（Viśvakarman）——住于宇宙之卵之内，亦超越其外：至上者，既外亦内；吐放炽烈火舌而又焚尽一切世界；并以万工万造之主的威权，起舞于主宰之境。

Word by Word

• aṇḍa-stham: situated in the cosmic egg
• aṇḍa-stham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṇḍa + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (aṇḍe stham = ‘in the egg/cosmic egg’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• aṇḍa-bāhya-stham: situated outside the cosmic egg
• aṇḍa-bāhya-stham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṇḍa + bāhya + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुषः (aṇḍasya bāhye stham = ‘situated outside the egg’)

• bāhyam: external
• bāhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• abhyantaram: internal
• abhyantaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhyantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• sṛjantam: creating
• sṛjantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ), Accusative masculine singular (द्वितीया एकवचन) agreeing with ‘devam’

• anala-jvālām: a flame of fire
• anala-jvālām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anala + jvālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (analasya jvālā = ‘flame of fire’)

• dahantam: burning
• dahantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ), Accusative masculine singular

• akhilam: entire
• akhilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies ‘jagat’

• jagat: world
• jagat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• nṛtyantam: dancing
• nṛtyantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ), Accusative masculine singular

• dadṛśuḥ: they saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular

• viśva-karmāṇam: the all-maker (Viśvakarman)
• viśva-karmāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (viśvasya karmā = ‘maker of all’, epithet)

• īśvaram: the Lord
• īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; apposition to ‘devam’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing what the sages/devotees saw in their vision)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Vishvakarman
• Brahmanda (cosmic egg)
• Anala (fire)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Īśvara as both immanent and transcendent—within the brahmāṇḍa and beyond it—indicating a non-dual Supreme reality that pervades all while exceeding all.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports īśvara-dhyāna: contemplation of the Lord as simultaneously inner witness (abhyantara) and outer transcendence (bāhya/param), a key orientation for Pāśupata-leaning devotion and concentration in the Kaurma tradition.

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

By describing the Supreme as creator, destroyer, and cosmic dancer, it uses attributes often associated with Śiva while naming Īśvara in a manner compatible with Vaiṣṇava theology—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where one Lord appears through multiple divine functions.