Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Lineage of Vyāsas, Division of the Veda, and Vāsudeva/Īśāna as the Veda-Known Supreme

Devanagari script

ओङ्कारो ब्रह्मणो जातः सर्वदोषविशोधनः / वेदवेद्यो हि भगवान् वासुदेवः सनातनः

Transliteration

oṅkāro brahmaṇo jātaḥ sarvadoṣaviśodhanaḥ / vedavedyo hi bhagavān vāsudevaḥ sanātanaḥ

Translation

Oṁkāra entspringt aus Brahman und reinigt alle Makel. Wahrlich, der selige Herr Vāsudeva—ewig—ist der, den man durch die Veden erkennen soll.

Word by Word

• oṅkāraḥ: the syllable Oṃ (Om-kāra)
• oṅkāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• jātaḥ: arisen/born
• jātaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/Predicate to subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) + jāta (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past participle in -ta), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘उत्पन्नः’ (born/arisen)

• sarva-doṣa-viśodhanaḥ: purifier of all faults
• sarva-doṣa-viśodhanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of oṅkāraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + viśodhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha): सर्वेषां दोषाणां विशोधनः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• veda-vedyaḥ: knowable through the Vedas
• veda-vedyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of bhagavān/vāsudevaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vedya (कृदन्त/यत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: वेदैः वेद्यः (knowable by the Vedas); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे ‘खलु/नूनम्’ (indeed)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vāsudevaḥ: Vāsudeva
• vāsudevaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/Appositive to bhagavān)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भगवतः नाम (proper noun)

• sanātanaḥ: eternal
• sanātanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of vāsudevaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial/Scriptural voice within the Purva-bhaga (praise-statement of the Purana’s teaching)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Omkara
• Brahman
• Vasudeva
• Vedas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as Brahman and as Bhagavān Vāsudeva—eternal and Veda-knowable—implying the ultimate reality is both transcendent (Brahman) and personal as the Lord.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds Oṁkāra as a purifying mantra; in Kurma Purana-style sādhanā this supports japa/dhyāna on Oṁ and contemplation of the Lord as taught by Vedic revelation.

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

By grounding the Supreme in Brahman and Vedic authority while naming Vāsudeva, it supports the Purana’s synthetic theology where the one Brahman is approached through sectarian names without denying non-dual unity.