Shloka 23

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

वयं संशयमापन्नाः सर्वे वै ब्रह्मवादिनः / भवन्तमेकं शरणं प्रपन्नाः पुरुषोत्तमम्

Transliteration

vayaṃ saṃśayamāpannāḥ sarve vai brahmavādinaḥ / bhavantamekaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapannāḥ puruṣottamam

Translation

نحن جميعًا، شارحو البَرَهْمَن، قد وقعنا في الشكّ؛ فلذلك لجأنا إليك وحدك ملاذًا، يا بُرُوشوتَّما، أيها الشخص الأسمى.

Word by Word

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural; 1st person pronoun

• saṃśayam: doubt
• saṃśayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• āpannāḥ: having fallen into/afflicted by
• āpannāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpanna (प्रातिपदिक; ā-√pad + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; past participle agreeing with vayam

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; used pronominally 'all'

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) for emphasis/assurance

• brahma-vādinaḥ: expounders of Brahman
• brahma-vādinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; तत्पुरुष 'speakers/expounders of Brahman'

• bhavantam: you (honored)
• bhavantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; 2nd person honorific pronoun

• ekam: one/only
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying śaraṇam (sense: 'as the one')

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Gati/Ādhāra (गति/आधार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used predicatively with prapannāḥ

• prapannāḥ: having surrendered
• prapannāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prapanna (प्रातिपदिक; pra-√pad + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; past participle 'having taken refuge'

• puruṣa-uttamam: the Supreme Person
• puruṣa-uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष 'best of persons' as epithet of bhavantam

Speaker

The sages (brahmavādins), addressing Lord Kūrma (Vishnu as the Supreme Ishvara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama
• Brahman
• Śaraṇāgati (refuge/surrender)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a single supreme reality—Puruṣottama—as the final refuge beyond intellectual doubt, implying that true certainty about Self/Brahman culminates in recognition of the one highest Lord.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds śaraṇāgati (taking refuge/surrender) as a foundational inner discipline—humility before Ishvara that prepares one for the Kurma Purana’s yogic and Pāśupata-oriented teachings that follow.

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

By addressing the Supreme as the one refuge, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest Ishvara is singular, while names and forms (Śiva/Vişṇu) function as convergent expressions of that same supreme reality.