Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80
Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching
Iśvara-Gītā Prelude
स्पृष्टमात्रो भगवता विष्णुना मुनिपुङ्गवः / यथावत् परमं तत्त्वं ज्ञातवांस्तत्प्रसादतः
spṛṣṭamātro bhagavatā viṣṇunā munipuṅgavaḥ / yathāvat paramaṃ tattvaṃ jñātavāṃstatprasādataḥ
Allein durch die Berührung des seligen Viṣṇu erkannte jener erhabenste der Weisen — wie es wirklich ist — die höchste Wirklichkeit, durch Seine Gnade.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the sage’s realization by Viṣṇu’s grace)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that the “paramaṃ tattva”—the Supreme Reality underlying Self (Ātman/Brahman)—is known “yathāvat,” truly and directly, not merely by argument, but through divine grace that perfects realization.
The verse foregrounds prasāda (divine grace) as the decisive factor that ripens Yoga and jñāna: disciplined practice may prepare the seeker, but transformative insight into tattva is depicted as bestowed by the Lord’s anugraha, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s devotion-infused Yoga orientation.
While explicitly naming Viṣṇu, the verse reflects the Purāṇa’s broader synthesis: supreme tattva-jñāna is granted by the one Lord who is approached through multiple divine forms—supporting a non-sectarian, unity-of-Iśvara perspective found throughout the Kūrma tradition.