Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50
Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching
Iśvara-Gītā Prelude
ज्ञात्वा मां वासुदेवाख्यं यत्र द्वे निहिते ऽक्षरे / विद्याविद्ये गूढरूपे यत्तद् ब्रह्म परं विदुः
jñātvā māṃ vāsudevākhyaṃ yatra dve nihite 'kṣare / vidyāvidye gūḍharūpe yattad brahma paraṃ viduḥ
Wer Mich erkennt, der Vāsudeva genannt wird—in dem die zwei Unvergänglichen ruhen, Wissen und Nichtwissen in verhüllter Gestalt—der verwirklicht Jenes, das die Weisen als das höchste Brahman kennen.
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna and the sages (Īśvara-gītā discourse)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It identifies the Supreme as Vāsudeva/Brahman, the imperishable reality within which both vidyā (liberating insight) and avidyā (bondage-producing ignorance) subsist; realizing Him is realizing the Supreme Brahman.
The verse points to jñāna-yoga as direct realization—discriminating between vidyā and avidyā and turning the mind toward the imperishable Lord (Īśvara) as the inner ground of both, a key contemplative stance in the Īśvara-gītā’s liberation teaching.
By presenting the Supreme as the one imperishable Brahman beyond dualities like knowledge/ignorance, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest reality is one, approached through different divine names and forms (including Vaiṣṇava Vāsudeva and Śaiva Īśvara).