Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

लब्ध्वा देवाधिदेवस्य सन्निधिं परमेष्ठिनः / अनन्तस्याखिलेशस्य शंभोः कालात्मनः प्रभोः

Transliteration

labdhvā devādhidevasya sannidhiṃ parameṣṭhinaḥ / anantasyākhileśasya śaṃbhoḥ kālātmanaḥ prabhoḥ

Translation

Having attained the immediate presence of the God of gods—the Supreme Lord, the Infinite, the ruler of all—Śambhu, who is the very Self of Time (Kāla), the sovereign Master.

Word by Word

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/gerundial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √labh (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययीभाववत्), pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action): ‘having obtained’

• deva-adhi-devasya: of the God over gods
• deva-adhi-devasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + adhi (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: devānām adhi-devaḥ), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• sannidhim: presence, proximity
• sannidhim: Karma (कर्म/Object of labdhvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sannidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• parameṣṭhinaḥ: of the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• parameṣṭhinaḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध; qualifier of devādhidevasya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• anantasya: of the Infinite
• anantasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• akhila-īśasya: of the Lord of all
• akhila-īśasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: akhilasya īśaḥ), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• kāla-ātmanaḥ: of him whose essence is Time
• kāla-ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी sense: kālaḥ ātmā yasya / kālasya ātmā), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• prabhoḥ: of the Lord
• prabhoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) narrating the Ishvara Gita teaching within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shambhu (Shiva)
• Parameshthin (Supreme Lord)
• Ananta (the Infinite)
• Kalatman (Time-Self)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as Śambhu who is “kālātmā”—the very Self/essence of Time—implying an all-pervading, governing reality that transcends yet contains cosmic process.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the yogic goal of attaining “sannidhi” (immediate presence) of the Supreme; in the Ishvara Gita context this aligns with Pāśupata-oriented devotion, meditation on the Infinite Lord, and steady contemplative absorption culminating in direct nearness to Ishvara.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita frame (spoken by Lord Kurma), the Supreme is praised as Śambhu, showing a non-sectarian synthesis where Vishnu teaches realization of Shiva as the highest Ishvara.