Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 13

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

तदन्तः सर्वभावानामीश्वरं ब्रह्मरूपिणम् / ध्यायेदनादिमद्वैतमानन्दादिगुणालयम्

Transliteration

tadantaḥ sarvabhāvānāmīśvaraṃ brahmarūpiṇam / dhyāyedanādimadvaitamānandādiguṇālayam

Translation

ينبغي أن يتأمّل المرء في الربّ القائم في باطن جميع أحوال الوجود—وهو بعينه صورة البراهمان—بلا بداية، غير ثنائي، ومأوى النعيم وجميع الصفات الإلهية.

Word by Word

• तदन्तः: having that as the end; culminating in That
• तदन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (तद्-अन्तः = तस्य अन्तः/पर्यवसानः)

• सर्वभावानाम्: of all beings/states
• सर्वभावानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सर्व-भाव = all beings/states)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मरूपिणम्: having the form of Brahman
• ब्रह्मरूपिणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्रह्म-रूपिन् = brahman-formed)

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अनादिमद्वैतम्: the beginningless non-dual (reality)
• अनादिमद्वैतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि + मत् + अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अनादि-मत्-अद्वैत = non-dual endowed with beginninglessness)

• आनन्दादिगुणालयम्: abode of bliss and other qualities
• आनन्दादिगुणालयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द + आदि + गुण + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आनन्द-आदि-गुण-आलय = abode of bliss etc. qualities)

Speaker

Traditionally framed as Purāṇic instruction delivered through the narrator (Vyāsa/Sūta lineage), presenting a yogic directive consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Brahman

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It describes the Supreme as indwelling in all beings, identical in nature with Brahman, beginningless and non-dual—pointing to the Atman as not separate from the highest reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes dhyāna (steady contemplation): focusing inwardly on the indwelling Īśvara as Brahman—an approach aligned with Purāṇic yoga where devotion and non-dual insight mature together.

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

By centering on Īśvara as Brahman—one, beginningless, and non-dual—it supports the Kurma Purana’s harmonizing stance: sectarian forms are expressions of the same supreme reality.