Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 25

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

चतुर्विंशकमव्यक्तं प्रधानं गुणलक्षणम् / अनादिमध्यनिधनं कारणं जगतः परम्

Transliteration

caturviṃśakamavyaktaṃ pradhānaṃ guṇalakṣaṇam / anādimadhyanidhanaṃ kāraṇaṃ jagataḥ param

Translation

不显之主质（Pradhāna，avyakta），以诸德性（guṇa）为相，成就第二十四原理。它无始、无中、无终，是宇宙至上的因地。

Word by Word

• चतुर्विंशकम्: the set of twenty-four
• चतुर्विंशकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्विंशक (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + विंशति)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्रधानम्/चतुर्विंशकम्)

• प्रधानम्: Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गुणलक्षणम्: having the guṇas as its mark
• गुणलक्षणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुणानां लक्षणम् = characterized by guṇas)

• अनादि-मध्य-निधनम्: without beginning, with middle, and with end
• अनादि-मध्य-निधनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि + मध्य + निधन (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (beginningless, with middle, and with end)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme/ultimate
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कारणम्)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages (Sāṅkhya-style cosmological teaching within the Purva-bhāga narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pradhana
• Gunas
• Avyakta
• Jagat

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse primarily defines Pradhāna (Prakṛti) as the unmanifest, guṇa-constituted causal ground of cosmic evolution; by implication in Purāṇic synthesis, the Self/Iśvara stands distinct from yet sovereign over this causal Nature.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is prescribed in this line; it supplies the contemplative framework used in Yoga—discriminating the unmanifest guṇa-based Prakṛti from the seer/knower—supporting viveka (discernment) that later matures into disciplined meditation.

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

The verse itself is cosmological (Pradhāna/guṇas) rather than sectarian; in the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, such Sāṅkhya categories are presented as shared doctrinal ground under the one supreme Lord revered as both Hari and Hara.