Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

परात्परतरं तत्त्वं शाश्वतं शिवमच्युतम् / अनन्तप्रकृतौ लीनं देव्यास्तत् परमं पदम्

Transliteration

parātparataraṃ tattvaṃ śāśvataṃ śivamacyutam / anantaprakṛtau līnaṃ devyāstat paramaṃ padam

Translation

That Reality, higher than the highest, is eternal—Śiva, the Unfailing (Acyuta). Merged into boundless Prakṛti, that is the Goddess Devī’s Supreme Abode.

Word by Word

• परात्: beyond/from the higher
• परात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थे/तुलनार्थे (ablatival adverb: 'from/beyond')

• परतरम्: higher, more supreme
• परतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• तत्त्वम्: principle, reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• शिवम्: auspicious
• शिवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• अच्युतम्: imperishable, unfailing
• अच्युतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• अनन्त-प्रकृतौ: in the endless Prakṛti
• अनन्त-प्रकृतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/locative); एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (anantā ca sā prakṛtiḥ)

• लीनम्: merged, dissolved
• लीनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ली (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/genitive); एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• पदम्: state, abode, position
• पदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching in the Īśvara-gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Acyuta
• Devi
• Prakriti

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a Reality beyond all gradations (“higher than the highest”), identified with Śiva/Acyuta—an eternal, unfailing supreme principle (tattva) that transcends ordinary categories while being the ultimate ground of liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Īśvara-focused contemplation (īśvara-dhyāna): the yogin meditates on the supreme tattva as eternal and non-falling (acyuta), and discerns the subtle relation of consciousness and prakṛti—an Ishvara Gita theme aligned with Pāśupata-oriented renunciation and inner absorption.

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

By using both names—Śiva and Acyuta—for the same “supreme tattva,” it conveys a synthetic, non-sectarian teaching: the highest Lord is one, spoken of through Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava epithets within the Kurma Purana’s Īśvara-gītā framework.