Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 38
Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta
Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman
यद् ब्रह्म परमं ज्योतिः प्रतिष्ठाक्षरमद्वयम् / यो ऽन्तरात्र परं ब्रह्म स विज्ञेयो महेश्वरः
yad brahma paramaṃ jyotiḥ pratiṣṭhākṣaramadvayam / yo 'ntarātra paraṃ brahma sa vijñeyo maheśvaraḥ
যি ব্ৰহ্ম পৰম জ্যোতি—আধাৰ, অক্ষয় আৰু অদ্বৈত—আৰু যি অন্তৰাত্মা ৰূপে সেই পৰব্ৰহ্মই, তেওঁকেই মহেশ্বৰ বুলি জানিব লাগে।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita style
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It identifies the antarātman (inner Self) with the Supreme Brahman itself—imperishable, non-dual, and self-luminous as the “supreme Light.”
The verse implies inward contemplation (antar-dhyāna) on the indwelling Self as Brahman—an Advaita-aligned realization that supports the Kurma Purana’s Yoga teaching where meditation culminates in knowing the one imperishable reality.
By calling the non-dual Brahman (the inner Self) “Maheshvara,” the text presents a synthesis where the supreme reality taught by Lord Kurma is not sectarian—Shiva (Maheshvara) is affirmed as that very Brahman.