Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

भवान् विद्यात्मिका शक्तिः शक्तिमानहमीश्वरः / यो ऽहं सुनिष्कलो देवः सो ऽपि नारायणः परः

Transliteration

bhavān vidyātmikā śaktiḥ śaktimānahamīśvaraḥ / yo 'haṃ suniṣkalo devaḥ so 'pi nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ

Translation

أنتَ الشاكتي (Śakti) التي جوهرها الفيديا (vidyā)، المعرفة الإلهية؛ وأنا الإيشڤارا (Īśvara) مالك تلك الشاكتي. والإله الذي هو أنا—منزّه عن الأجزاء والانقسام—هو بعينه نارايانا الأعلى (Nārāyaṇa).

Word by Word

• bhavān: you (hon.)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun of respect (भवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidyātmikā: knowledge-essenced
• vidyātmikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyā + ātmikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); samāsa: vidyā-ātmikā (whose essence is knowledge) qualifying śaktiḥ

• śaktiḥ: power/energy
• śaktiḥ: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaktimān: possessing power
• śaktimān: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + matup (मत्वर्थीय प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); possessive adjective (मत्वर्थ)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (अस्मद्), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• īśvaraḥ: Lord
• īśvaraḥ: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्-शब्द), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (अस्मद्), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• suniṣkalaḥ: completely partless/without divisions
• suniṣkalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + niṣkala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying devaḥ

• devaḥ: god/deity
• devaḥ: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he/that (one)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (तद्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) meaning ‘also/even’

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying nārāyaṇaḥ

Speaker

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Vidyā
• Ishvara
• Narayana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the highest reality as the “suniṣkala” (partless, undivided) Deva—beyond fragmentation—named here as the Supreme Nārāyaṇa, implying a single non-dual ground that is not limited by parts or attributes.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a contemplative approach central to the Īśvara-gītā: meditation on the partless Lord (suniṣkala īśvara) while understanding Śakti as vidyā (spiritual knowledge). This aligns with Pāśupata-oriented discipline where right knowledge (vidyā) and devotion to Īśvara converge.

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

By speaking in Īśvara-Śakti terms yet concluding with “that very one is Supreme Nārāyaṇa,” it presents a synthesis: the Lord described in Śaiva metaphysics (Īśvara with Śakti) is not different from Nārāyaṇa, expressing a Shaiva–Vaishnava unity within the Kurma Purana.