Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

यं प्रपश्यन्तियोगस्थाः स्वात्मन्यात्मानमीश्वरमा / अनन्यतेजसं शान्तं शिवं ददृशिरे किल

Transliteration

yaṃ prapaśyantiyogasthāḥ svātmanyātmānamīśvaramā / ananyatejasaṃ śāntaṃ śivaṃ dadṛśire kila

Translation

যোগে প্রতিষ্ঠিত তারা নিজেদের আত্মার মধ্যেই সেই আত্মাকে ঈশ্বররূপে দর্শন করে—অদ্বিতীয় তেজস্বী, শান্ত, শিবময়; সত্যই তারা তাঁকেই শিব রূপে উপলব্ধি করল।

Word by Word

• यम्: whom
• यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (whom)

• प्रपश्यन्ति: they behold
• प्रपश्यन्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• योगस्थाः: those established in yoga
• योगस्थाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (योगे स्थिताḥ = stationed in yoga)

• स्वात्मनि: in their own self
• स्वात्मनि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य आत्मनि = in one’s own self)

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to यम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (lord)

• अनन्य-तेजसम्: of unmatched radiance
• अनन्य-तेजसम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अनन्यं तेजः यस्य = of unrivalled radiance)

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally: peaceful)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (Śiva)

• ददृशिरे: they saw
• ददृशिरे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• किल: indeed
• किल: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रसिद्ध्यर्थक/अनुश्रुत्यर्थक (particle: indeed/traditionally)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara-Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Ishvara
• Shiva
• Yoga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches that advanced yogins directly perceive the Atman within themselves as Īśvara—self-luminous, tranquil, and supremely auspicious—indicating the Lord is realized inwardly rather than as merely external.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogasthiti—steady abidance in Yoga—leading to inner vision (direct realization) where the practitioner contemplates and experiences the Self within as the Lord, a hallmark of the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented contemplative discipline.

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

By describing the realized Lord as “Śiva” (the auspicious, benevolent Supreme), it supports the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the inner Īśvara realized through Yoga is one reality, praised through the name and qualities of Śiva.