Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 104

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

अवाप परमं योगं येनैकं परिपश्यति / यं विनिद्रा जितश्वासाः काङ्क्षन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिणः

Transliteration

avāpa paramaṃ yogaṃ yenaikaṃ paripaśyati / yaṃ vinidrā jitaśvāsāḥ kāṅkṣante mokṣakāṅkṣiṇaḥ

Translation

Er erlangte den höchsten Yoga, durch den man allein das Eine schaut. Nach diesem Zustand—von Befreiungssuchern erstrebt—sehnen sich die Schlafüberwinder und die, welche den Atem bezwungen haben.

Word by Word

• अवाप: attained
• अवाप: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; अव-उपसर्ग

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; योगम् इति विशेषण

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रयोग (relative pronoun)

• एकम्: the One
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• परिपश्यति: sees clearly
• परिपश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• यम्: whom/which
• यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रयोग

• विनिद्राः: sleepless (wakeful)
• विनिद्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; 'sleep-less/awake' (निद्रा-रहित)

• जितश्वासाः: having controlled the breath
• जितश्वासाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित + श्वास (प्रातिपदिक; जित = √जि (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: श्वासः जितः येषाम् (those whose breath is conquered/controlled)

• काङ्क्षन्ते: desire/long for
• काङ्क्षन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √काङ्क्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• मोक्षकाङ्क्षिणः: seekers of liberation
• मोक्षकाङ्क्षिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष + काङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मोक्षस्य काङ्क्षिणः (desirers of liberation)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing King Indradyumna in the Īśvara-gītā

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma
• Viṣṇu
• Īśvara (Supreme Lord)
• Mokṣa
• Yoga
• Prāṇāyāma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to direct realization of “the One” (ekam)—a non-dual vision where the seeker perceives a single supreme Reality beyond multiplicity, which is the culmination of the highest Yoga.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes vigilant wakefulness (vinidrāḥ) and mastery of the breath (jitaśvāsāḥ), indicating steady meditation supported by prāṇāyāma and disciplined concentration as aids toward liberation.

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

By presenting liberation as realization of the single “One” (Īśvara), it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the supreme Lord is ultimately non-dual—harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava theological language within a unified Yogic goal.