Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching
Iśvara-Gītā Prelude
ततः कदाचिद् योगीन्द्रो ब्रह्माणं द्रष्टुमव्ययम् / जगामादित्यनिर्देशान्मानसोत्तरपर्वतम् / आकाशेनैव विप्रेन्द्रो योगैश्वर्यप्रभावतः
tataḥ kadācid yogīndro brahmāṇaṃ draṣṭumavyayam / jagāmādityanirdeśānmānasottaraparvatam / ākāśenaiva viprendro yogaiśvaryaprabhāvataḥ
Dann machte sich zu einer Zeit der Herr unter den Yogins auf, um den unvergänglichen Brahmā zu schauen. Dem vom Sonnengott gewiesenen Lauf folgend, gelangte der beste der Brahmanen zum Berg Mānasottara—durch den Himmel selbst, kraft der Macht und Erhabenheit aus yogischer Meisterschaft (yogaiśvarya).
Suta (narrator) / Purana narrator describing the yogin’s movement
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Indirectly: it highlights “avyaya” (imperishable) as the spiritual horizon toward which yogic discipline points—implying that true realization seeks the undecaying principle beyond changing forms, even when the narrative speaks of meeting Brahmā.
The verse emphasizes yoga-aiśvarya (yogic sovereignty), implying siddhis gained through sustained discipline—such as mastery of mind and prāṇa—culminating in extraordinary mobility (moving through the sky), a common Purāṇic sign of advanced yogic attainment.
While Shiva and Vishnu are not named here, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis frames yogic mastery as a shared soteriological language across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams—yoga leading beyond the perishable toward the imperishable reality revered in both traditions.