Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

विज्ञाय तत्परं तत्त्वं विभूतिं कार्यकारणम् / प्रवृतिं चापि मे ज्ञात्वा मोक्षार्थोश्वरमर्चयेत्

Transliteration

vijñāya tatparaṃ tattvaṃ vibhūtiṃ kāryakāraṇam / pravṛtiṃ cāpi me jñātvā mokṣārthośvaramarcayet

Translation

فإذا عرفتَ ذلك المبدأ الأسمى، وأدركتَ تجلّيَّ السلطاني (فيبهوتي) بوصفه العلّة الكامنة وراء العلّة والمعلول، وعرفتَ أيضًا فعلي الكوني (برافِرِتّي)، فعلى طالب الموكشا أن يعبد إيشڤارا.

Word by Word

• vijñāya: having understood
• vijñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु) + ल्यप् (Kṛdanta)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having known’

• tat-param: supreme/that-oriented
• tat-param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifier of karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तत्-परः = ‘that as supreme/that-oriented’), agrees with ‘tattvam’

• tattvam: the reality/principle
• tattvam: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘vijñāya/jñātvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• vibhūtim: manifest power/glory
• vibhūtim: Karma (कर्म; object understood with ‘vijñāya/jñātvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• kārya-kāraṇam: effect and cause
• kārya-kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म; object understood with ‘vijñāya/jñātvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कार्यं च कारणं च)

• pravṛtim: activity/engagement
• pravṛtim: Karma (कर्म; object understood with ‘jñātvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• me: my/of me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; possessive ‘of me’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन; enclitic form

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु) + क्त्वा (Kṛdanta)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having known’

• mokṣa-arthaḥ: one whose aim is liberation
• mokṣa-arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; subject of ‘arcayet’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मोक्षस्य अर्थः = ‘one whose aim is liberation’)

• īśvaram: the Lord
• īśvaram: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘arcayet’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in the Īśvara-gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara
• Mokṣa
• Tattva
• Vibhūti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a “supreme tattva” to be directly realized, identifying Īśvara as the ultimate reality whose vibhūti underlies the entire chain of cause and effect—implying a single highest principle behind manifestation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes jñāna (realization of tattva) joined with upāsanā/arcana (worship). In the Kurma Purana’s Īśvara-gītā spirit, liberation is approached through insight into Īśvara’s causal sovereignty plus disciplined devotional practice aligned with Yoga-shāstra.

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

By centering liberation on worship of Īśvara as the supreme tattva and causal ground, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the highest Lord (Īśvara) is approached beyond sectarian division—compatible with Shaiva-Vaishnava unity.