Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्विधानि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च / नियोगादेव वर्तन्ते देवस्य परमात्मनः

Transliteration

caturvidhāni bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca / niyogādeva vartante devasya paramātmanaḥ

Translation

一切众生——四类之别，或不动或能动——皆唯依至上我、神圣主宰（Paramātman）之命令而行，而续其轨。

Word by Word

• चतुर्विधानि: of four kinds
• चतुर्विधानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (संख्यापूर्वपद): चतुर्णां विधानानि/चतुर्विधानि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• भूतानि: beings/creatures
• भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्थावराणि: immobile
• स्थावराणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of bhūtāni)

• चराणि: mobile
• चराणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• नियोगात्: from (his) command/by injunction
• नियोगात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• वर्तन्ते: proceed/exist
• वर्तन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: परमः आत्मा; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial/Scriptural voice (Purāṇic teaching within the Kurma Purana’s doctrinal exposition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Deva (the Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Paramātman as the supreme divine principle whose ordinance governs the activity and continuity of all beings, indicating a Lord-centered (Īśvara) metaphysics where cosmic function depends on the Supreme Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not naming a specific technique, the verse supports an Īśvara-oriented discipline central to Purāṇic Yoga: cultivating surrender (īśvara-praṇidhāna), aligning one’s action with divine order (niyoga), and contemplating the Lord as the inner ruler (antaryāmin) of all beings.

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

By emphasizing the one Paramātman as the governing Lord, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu can be understood as forms or expressions of the same Supreme who directs all beings.