Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

यो ऽन्तस्तिष्ठति भूतानां बहिर्देवः प्रभञ्जनः / मदाज्ञयासौ भूतानां शरीराणि बिभर्ति हि

Transliteration

yo 'ntastiṣṭhati bhūtānāṃ bahirdevaḥ prabhañjanaḥ / madājñayāsau bhūtānāṃ śarīrāṇi bibharti hi

Translation

那位住于一切众生之内者，亦在外以神圣的普罗梵迦那（Prabhañjana，风神伐由）而行；奉我之命，确实维系诸有情之身。

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम)

• antaḥ: within
• antaḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antaḥ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'inside/within'

• tiṣṭhati: stands/abides
• tiṣṭhati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धाातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūtānām: of beings
• bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'outside/without'

• devaḥ: the god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• prabhañjanaḥ: Prabhañjana (Wind)
• prabhañjanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhañjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); epithet/name (विशेष्य-नाम)

• mat-ājñayā: by my command
• mat-ājñayā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'my command'

• asau: that (he)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun (दर्शक-सर्वनाम)

• bhūtānām: of beings
• bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śarīrāṇi: bodies
• śarīrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bibharti: supports/bears
• bibharti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) expressing emphasis/indeed

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Kurma Purana discourse context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Prabhañjana (Vayu)
• Bhutas (living beings)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the Antaryāmin—present within all beings—while also functioning outwardly through cosmic powers like Vāyu, showing one Lord as both immanent and transcendent.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Antaryāmin-upāsanā: meditation on the indwelling Lord who animates prāṇa (vital wind). In Yoga-shāstra terms, it aligns with prāṇa-awareness and inner-controller contemplation as a basis for steadiness of mind.

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

By grounding cosmic functions (like Vāyu’s sustaining power) in the one divine command, it reflects the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same supreme Lord is known through multiple divine forms and powers, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava theology.