Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46
Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction
मन्ता विश्वेश्वरो देवः शङ्करो मन्मथान्तकः / प्रोच्यते मतिरीशानी मन्तव्या च विचारतः
mantā viśveśvaro devaḥ śaṅkaro manmathāntakaḥ / procyate matirīśānī mantavyā ca vicārataḥ
Er ist der innere Lenker (der Denkende), der Herr des Universums—Gott; Śaṅkara, der Bezwinger Manmathas (Kāma). Diese Einsicht wird als von Īśānī (der Macht des Herrn, Śakti) geborene Erkenntnis gelehrt und soll mit unterscheidender Betrachtung meditiert werden.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the Ishvara-Gita to the sages (in the narrative frame with King Indradyumna)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By calling the Lord “mantā” (the inner knower/guide) and “viśveśvara” (Lord of all), the verse points to Ishvara as the indwelling consciousness that governs and illumines the universe, known through discriminative inquiry (vicāra).
It emphasizes mantra-like contemplative recollection of divine epithets—especially Ishvara as Śaṅkara/Manmathāntaka—combined with vicāra (reflective discrimination), a characteristic method within the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented devotion and meditation.
Within the Ishvara-Gita setting, Vishnu (as Kurma) teaches names and attributes of Śiva as the Supreme Lord, modeling a synthesis where Shiva and Vishnu are approached as one Ishvara through unified contemplation.