Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 17

Rudra’s Cosmic Dance and the Recognition of Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity (Īśvara-gītā Continuation)

Devanagari script

क्षणेन जगतो योनिं नारायणमनामयम् / ईश्वरेणैकतापन्नमपश्यन् ब्रह्मवादिनः

Transliteration

kṣaṇena jagato yoniṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam / īśvareṇaikatāpannamapaśyan brahmavādinaḥ

Translation

وفي لحظةٍ واحدة أبصر الحكماءُ الناطقون بالبَرَهْمَن نارايانا—السليمَ من العِلَل، المنزَّهَ عن الكَدَر—وهو رحمُ الكون، وأدركوه واحدَ الجوهر مع إيشڤارا.

Word by Word

• kṣaṇena: in a moment; by a moment
• kṣaṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana

• jagataḥ: of the world
• jagataḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana

• yonim: womb, source
• yonim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; apposition to ‘yonim’

• anāmayam: free from disease; flawless
• anāmayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-āmaya (प्रातिपदिक; अ + आमय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘nārāyaṇam’

• īśvareṇa: by/with the Lord
• īśvareṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana

• ekatā-āpannam: having attained oneness (united)
• ekatā-āpannam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekatā-āpanna (प्रातिपदिक; एकता + आपन्न)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/ktá) from √āp (आप्/आप्नोति, to attain) in sense ‘having attained’; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘nārāyaṇam/yonim’

• apaśyan: they saw
• apaśyan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Parasmaipada; Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• brahmavādinaḥ: the expounders of Brahman
• brahmavādinaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-vādin (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + वादिन्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing what the sages perceived)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Ishvara
• Brahmavadins

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Nārāyaṇa, the cosmic source (jagad-yoni), who is also realized as one with Īśvara—indicating a single, undivided Supreme Reality beyond affliction and change.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies yogic ‘darśana’ (direct vision) born of contemplative realization: the seers perceive unity (ekatā) of Nārāyaṇa and Īśvara, aligning with Kurma Purana’s synthesis of devotion and knowledge that culminates in non-dual insight.

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

By stating that Nārāyaṇa is seen as ‘one with Īśvara,’ the text supports a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the supreme Lord is one reality addressed through different divine names and theological lenses.