Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

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

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

सर्वभूतात्मभूतः स परमैश्वर्यमास्थितः / प्राप्तवानात्मनो धाम यत्तन्मोक्षाख्यमव्ययम्

Transliteration

sarvabhūtātmabhūtaḥ sa paramaiśvaryamāsthitaḥ / prāptavānātmano dhāma yattanmokṣākhyamavyayam

Translation

Indem er zum Selbst in allen Wesen wurde, weilt er in höchster Herrschaft; er hat seine eigene wahre Wohnstatt erlangt—unvergänglich, bekannt als mokṣa, die Befreiung.

Word by Word

• सर्वभूतात्मभूतः: become the Self of all beings
• सर्वभूतात्मभूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-भूत-आत्म-भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः) ‘सर्वेषां भूतानाम् आत्मा (इव) भूतो यः’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परम-ऐश्वर्यम्: supreme lordship
• परम-ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (परमं च तत् ऐश्वर्यम्)

• आस्थितः: having attained/abiding in
• आस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘स्थितः/प्राप्तः’

• प्राप्तवान्: has obtained
• प्राप्तवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतुँ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfect participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of himself/of the Self
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• धाम: abode
• धाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन्/धाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• मोक्षाख्यम्: called ‘mokṣa’
• मोक्षाख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष-आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (मोक्ष इति आख्या यस्य)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (as Īśvara, instructing the sages/Indradyumna context of the Īśvara-gītā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Ishvara
• Moksha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the realized state as becoming the inner Self of all beings (sarvabhūtātmabhūtaḥ), indicating a non-dual vision where the Self is recognized as universally present rather than limited to an individual body-mind.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to the culmination of Yogic realization—identity with the all-pervading Self and establishment in īśvaratva (supreme sovereignty). In the Īśvara-gītā frame, this aligns with disciplined meditation, inner detachment, and knowledge that matures into direct realization of the Self as universal.

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

By describing liberation as entry into the imperishable supreme abode through realization of the all-pervading Self, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the highest reality (Īśvara) transcends sectarian difference, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava language around one non-dual mokṣa.