Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42
Kapardeśvara at Piśācamocana — Liberation of a Piśāca and the Brahmapāra Hymn
न यत्र नामादिविशेषकॢप्ति- र् न संदृशे तिष्ठति यत्स्वरूपम् / तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणतो ऽस्मि नित्यं स्वयंभुवं त्वां शरणं प्रपद्ये
na yatra nāmādiviśeṣakḷpti- r na saṃdṛśe tiṣṭhati yatsvarūpam / taṃ brahmapāraṃ praṇato 'smi nityaṃ svayaṃbhuvaṃ tvāṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye
Ich verneige mich immerdar vor jenem höchsten Brahman — jenseits aller Grenzen —, in dem keine Konstruktion von Unterschieden wie Name und dergleichen entstehen kann und dessen Wesen vom gewöhnlichen Wahrnehmen nicht erfasst wird. O Selbstgeborener Herr, zu Dir allein nehme ich Zuflucht.
A devotee/sage addressing the Supreme Lord (identified with Brahman and the Self-born Ishvara)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It describes the Supreme as beyond all name-based distinctions and beyond ordinary perception, pointing to a non-dual Brahman/Atman that cannot be objectified yet is the ultimate refuge.
The verse emphasizes apophatic contemplation (neti-neti style negation of name/form) and surrender (śaraṇāgati) to the Self-born Lord—both central supports for meditative absorption leading toward moksha in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented theology.
By praising the one Supreme beyond perceptible form and taking refuge in the Self-born Ishvara, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: sectarian names differ, but the ultimate reality (Ishvara/Brahman) is one.