Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 50

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

नारायणं जगद्योनिमाकाशं परमं पदम् / तल्लिङ्गधारी नियतं तद्भक्तस्तदपाश्रयः / एष एव विधिर्ब्राह्मे भावने चान्तिके मतः

Transliteration

nārāyaṇaṃ jagadyonimākāśaṃ paramaṃ padam / talliṅgadhārī niyataṃ tadbhaktastadapāśrayaḥ / eṣa eva vidhirbrāhme bhāvane cāntike mataḥ

Translation

Indem man die Betrachtung auf Nārāyaṇa richtet—den Schoß des Universums, allgegenwärtig wie der Raum und die höchste Wohnstatt—soll man beständig Seine heiligen Zeichen tragen, in Zucht leben, Ihm in Bhakti ergeben sein und allein bei Ihm Zuflucht nehmen. Nur dies gilt in der brahmischen Überlieferung als rechte Methode, sowohl für die innere Kontemplation als auch für die innige Annäherung an das Göttliche.

Word by Word

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; proper noun

• jagat-yonim: source/womb of the world
• jagat-yonim: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (जगतः योनि: = source of the world)

• ākāśam: space/ether
• ākāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• padam: abode/state
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tat-liṅga-dhārī: bearing that emblem/mark
• tat-liṅga-dhārī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तस्य लिङ्गं धारयति)

• niyatam: steadily/regularly
• niyatam: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकार-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: niyata (यम् धातु + क्त)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘regularly/steadily’ (formally neut. acc. sg used adverbially)

• tat-bhaktaḥ: his devotee
• tat-bhaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + bhakta (भज् धातु + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (devotee of him/that)

• tat-apāśrayaḥ: having him as refuge
• tat-apāśrayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + apāśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (having that as support/refuge)

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• vidhiḥ: rule/method
• vidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• brāhme: in the Brahmic (doctrine)
• brāhme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brāhma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘in/according to Brahmā/Brahmic (teaching)’

• bhāvane: in contemplation
• bhāvane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in contemplation/meditation’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• antike: near/at close range
• antike: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (locative used adverbially); ‘near/at hand’

• mataḥ: is considered
• mataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘considered/held (as)’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (contextual teaching on Nārāyaṇa-upāsanā within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Nārāyaṇa as the cosmic source (jagadyoni), all-pervading like space (ākāśa), and the supreme goal (paramaṃ padam), indicating the Absolute as both immanent in the cosmos and transcendent as the highest refuge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhāvanā (meditative cultivation) directed to Nārāyaṇa, supported by niyama (discipline), devotional orientation (bhakti), and śaraṇāgati (exclusive refuge). It frames practice as both inner contemplation and sustained, embodied commitment through the Lord’s identifying marks (liṅga).

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

By using technical devotional language (liṅga as ‘mark’ and disciplined upāsanā) while centering on Nārāyaṇa as the Supreme, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach: sectarian signs and yogic discipline are harmonized with a single supreme reality worthy of refuge.