Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

उपास्यमाना विविधैः शक्तिभेदैरितस्ततः / पीत्वा योगामृतं लब्ध्वा साक्षादानन्दमैश्वरम्

Transliteration

upāsyamānā vividhaiḥ śaktibhedairitastataḥ / pītvā yogāmṛtaṃ labdhvā sākṣādānandamaiśvaram

Translation

إذ يُتعبَّد له عبر تمايزات شَكتي (Śakti) المتنوعة، هنا وهناك بطرائق شتّى، فإنّ (السالك) بعد أن يشرب رحيق اليوغا ينال مباشرةً نعيمَ إيشڤارا (Īśvara) الملوكيّ السيادة.

Word by Word

• उपास्यमाना: being worshipped
• उपास्यमाना: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु) + श्यत्/मान (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present passive participle (वर्तमान-कर्मणि कृदन्त/शानच्-मान), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; ‘being worshipped’

• विविधैः: by various
• विविधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agrees with शक्तिभेदैः

• शक्ति-भेदैः: by divisions/forms of power
• शक्ति-भेदैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शक्तीनां भेदाः)

• इतस्: from here
• इतस्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय) meaning ‘from here/this side’

• ततः: from there/then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय) meaning ‘from there/then’

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having drunk’

• योग-अमृतम्: the nectar of yoga
• योग-अमृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (योगस्य अमृतम्)

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having obtained’

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय) ‘directly/manifestly’

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ऐश्वरम्: lordly/divine (sovereign)
• ऐश्वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used adjectivally qualifying आनन्दम् (or as appositional object)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis on Upasana and Yoga

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Shakti
• Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents realization as immediate (sākṣāt): by yogic “nectar,” one attains the bliss that is lordly (aiśvara), indicating the Self known directly as Īśvara’s bliss rather than as a merely conceptual idea.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes upāsanā expressed through varied śakti-forms (śaktibheda) and culminates in yogic assimilation (“drinking” yogāmṛta), pointing to sustained meditation and inner absorption that ripens into direct experience of Īśvara.

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

By speaking in terms of Īśvara, śakti, and yogic realization rather than sectarian exclusivity, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-dual devotional frame where the Supreme Lord is approached through multiple power-aspects—supporting Shaiva–Vaishnava unity in practice and goal.