Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

कृटस्थो ह्यक्षरो व्यापी योगी नारायणः स्वयम् / तारकः पुरुषो ह्यात्मा केवलं परमं पदम्

Transliteration

kṛṭastho hyakṣaro vyāpī yogī nārāyaṇaḥ svayam / tārakaḥ puruṣo hyātmā kevalaṃ paramaṃ padam

Translation

هو ثابتٌ في الحقيقة غير المتزعزعة—أبديٌّ لا يفنى، شاملٌ لكل شيء؛ واليوغي الأعلى هو نارايانا ذاته. وهو التارَكَة، المُخلِّص المُحرِّر؛ البُوروشا الأسمى، وهو عينُ الآتمان—الواحد بلا ثانٍ، المقام الأعلى.

Word by Word

• कूटस्थः: unchanging/steadfast
• कूटस्थः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूटस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कूटे तिष्ठति इति/कूटवत् स्थिरः) विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• अक्षरः: imperishable
• अक्षरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्यापी: all-pervading
• व्यापी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √व्याप् धातु-जन्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• योगी: yogin
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संज्ञा

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थे (oneself)

• तारकः: savior/deliverer
• तारकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुरुषः: Person (Supreme Being)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम्

• आत्मा: Self
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• केवलम्: pure/only
• केवलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (पदम् इति)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पदम्: state/abode/goal
• पदम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (as Nārāyaṇa) instructing the sages/Indradyumna-context discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Akshara
• Atman
• Purusha
• Yoga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as imperishable and all-pervading, explicitly equating Him with Ātman and describing Him as kevala—absolute and non-dual—who is also the highest goal (paramaṃ padam).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds the Lord as the supreme Yogin, implying Yoga as God-realization: steadiness in the changeless (kṛṭastha), contemplation of the all-pervading Akṣara, and liberation through direct knowledge of the Self as Nārāyaṇa.

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

By presenting the Supreme as the all-pervading Yogin and Ātman, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis where the highest reality transcends names—allowing Śaiva Pāśupata-Yoga language and Vaiṣṇava Nārāyaṇa-theology to converge in one Supreme.