Shloka 1
Iśvara on Māyā, the Unmanifest, and the Viśvarūpa of the One Supreme
इति श्रीकूर्मपाराणे षट्साहस्त्र्यां संहितायामुपरिविभागे (ईश्वरगीतासु) अष्टमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः निष्कलो निर्मलो नित्यो निष्क्रियः परमेश्वरः / तन्नो वद महादेव विश्वरूपः कथं भवान्
iti śrīkūrmapārāṇe ṣaṭsāhastryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuparivibhāge (īśvaragītāsu) aṣṭamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ niṣkalo nirmalo nityo niṣkriyaḥ parameśvaraḥ / tanno vada mahādeva viśvarūpaḥ kathaṃ bhavān
Die Weisen sprachen: „Der höchste Herr ist teil-los, makellos, ewig und ohne Handeln. Sage uns, o Mahādeva: Wie kommt es, dass du zugleich Viśvarūpa bist, dessen Gestalt das ganze Universum ist?“
The Sages (Ṛṣayaḥ)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It points to the Supreme as niravayava (partless), nirmala (pure), nitya (eternal), and niṣkriya (beyond doership), indicating an Atman/Brahman-like reality untouched by change, karma, or material limitation.
This verse sets the doctrinal basis for meditation in the Īśvara-gītā: contemplation on the paradox of the nirguṇa (actionless, partless) Lord who also appears as saguṇa/viśvarūpa. Such inquiry supports Pāśupata-style inner discernment (viveka) leading toward steadiness in dhyāna on Īśvara beyond attributes.
By addressing the Supreme as “Mahādeva” while discussing the universal form and transcendence, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: one Parameśvara is praised through multiple divine names and functions, harmonizing Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava theological language.