Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

आत्मन्यात्मानमन्वीक्ष्य स्वात्मन्येवाखिलं जगत् / संप्राप्य भावनामन्त्यां ब्राह्मीमक्षरपूर्विकाम्

Transliteration

ātmanyātmānamanvīkṣya svātmanyevākhilaṃ jagat / saṃprāpya bhāvanāmantyāṃ brāhmīmakṣarapūrvikām

Translation

Contemplating the Self within the Self, and beholding the entire universe as existing in one’s own Self alone, one attains the final meditative realization—the Brahmī state—grounded in the Imperishable (Akṣara).

Word by Word

• आत्मनि: in the Self
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्वीक्ष्य: having contemplated
• अन्वीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having contemplated/observed'

• स्वात्मनि: in one’s own Self
• स्वात्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य आत्मनि (in one's own self)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; जगत् इति विशेषण

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• संप्राप्य: having attained
• संप्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having attained'

• भावनाम्: meditative contemplation
• भावनाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्त्याम्: final/ultimate
• अन्त्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भावनाम् इति विशेषण

• ब्राह्मीम्: pertaining to Brahman
• ब्राह्मीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भावनाम् इति विशेषण

• अक्षरपूर्विकाम्: beginning with the imperishable syllable (Oṃ)
• अक्षरपूर्विकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर + पूर्विका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अक्षरं पूर्वं यस्याः सा (having the syllable as its beginning; i.e., beginning with Oṃ)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching within the Īśvara-gītā discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Brahman
• Akshara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches Self-inquiry that reveals the universe as resting in the Self, culminating in Brahmī (Brahman-realization) rooted in the Imperishable (Akṣara), indicating an unchanging, all-pervading ground of being.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights ātmānuvīkṣā (deep contemplation of the Self) and non-dual bhāvanā (final contemplative absorption) where the practitioner internalizes the cosmos as Self—an advanced meditative culmination aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Yoga-shāstra tone.

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

By emphasizing realization of Akṣara-Brahman beyond sectarian forms, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the highest truth is one, approached through Īśvara-centered Yoga that harmonizes Shaiva and Vaishnava understandings.