Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

कृटस्थो ह्यक्षरो व्यापी योगी नारायणः स्वयम् / तारकः पुरुषो ह्यात्मा केवलं परमं पदम्

Transliteration

kṛṭastho hyakṣaro vyāpī yogī nārāyaṇaḥ svayam / tārakaḥ puruṣo hyātmā kevalaṃ paramaṃ padam

Translation

Er ist in der unerschütterlichen Wirklichkeit gegründet — unvergänglich, allgegenwärtig; der höchste Yogin ist Nārāyaṇa selbst. Er ist der tāraka, der befreiende Retter; der höchste Purusha, das Ātman selbst — der Eine ohne Zweiten, die höchste Wohnstatt.

Word by Word

• कूटस्थः: unchanging/steadfast
• कूटस्थः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूटस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कूटे तिष्ठति इति/कूटवत् स्थिरः) विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• अक्षरः: imperishable
• अक्षरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्यापी: all-pervading
• व्यापी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √व्याप् धातु-जन्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• योगी: yogin
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संज्ञा

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थे (oneself)

• तारकः: savior/deliverer
• तारकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुरुषः: Person (Supreme Being)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम्

• आत्मा: Self
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• केवलम्: pure/only
• केवलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (पदम् इति)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पदम्: state/abode/goal
• पदम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (as Nārāyaṇa) instructing the sages/Indradyumna-context discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Akshara
• Atman
• Purusha
• Yoga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as imperishable and all-pervading, explicitly equating Him with Ātman and describing Him as kevala—absolute and non-dual—who is also the highest goal (paramaṃ padam).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds the Lord as the supreme Yogin, implying Yoga as God-realization: steadiness in the changeless (kṛṭastha), contemplation of the all-pervading Akṣara, and liberation through direct knowledge of the Self as Nārāyaṇa.

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

By presenting the Supreme as the all-pervading Yogin and Ātman, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis where the highest reality transcends names—allowing Śaiva Pāśupata-Yoga language and Vaiṣṇava Nārāyaṇa-theology to converge in one Supreme.