Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

एष धाता विधाता च समागच्छति सर्वगः / अनादिरक्षयो ऽनन्तो महाभूतो महेश्वरः

Transliteration

eṣa dhātā vidhātā ca samāgacchati sarvagaḥ / anādirakṣayo 'nanto mahābhūto maheśvaraḥ

Translation

He is the Sustainer and the Ordainer; the all-pervading One draws near to all. Beginningless, imperishable, and infinite—He is the Great Being, Mahābhūta, the Supreme Lord, Maheśvara.

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhātā: creator/sustainer
• dhātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhā (धा धातु) + tṛ (तृन् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta agent noun (कर्तृवाचक), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidhātā: ordainer/arranger
• vidhātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi + dhā (वि+धा धातु) + tṛ (तृन् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta agent noun (कर्तृवाचक), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• samāgacchati: comes/approaches
• samāgacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + gam (सम्+आ+गम् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvagaḥ: all-pervading
• sarvagaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + ga (सर्व + ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘sarvatra gaḥ’, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• anādiḥ: beginningless
• anādiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an- + ādi (अन् + आदि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Negated adjective, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• akṣayaḥ: imperishable
• akṣayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + kṣaya (अ + क्षय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Negated adjective, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• anantaḥ: endless/infinite
• anantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an- + anta (अन् + अन्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Negated adjective, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahābhūtaḥ: the great being
• mahābhūtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bhūta (महा + भूत प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘mahān bhūtaḥ’, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• maheśvaraḥ: the Great Lord
• maheśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + īśvara (महा + ईश्वर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘mahān īśvaraḥ’, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narratorial/Doctrinal voice within the Purāṇic discourse (praise of Īśvara as Maheśvara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara
• Īśvara (Supreme Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the Lord as beginningless, imperishable, infinite, and all-pervading, the verse presents the Supreme Reality as beyond time and decay, present everywhere as the underlying support and governor of existence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While no technique is listed explicitly, the verse supports Īśvara-centric meditation (īśvara-dhyāna): contemplating the omnipresent Lord as the inner ruler and imperishable ground of all, a key orientation in Pāśupata-leaning devotion and yoga within the Kaurma tradition.

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

Using the title Maheśvara for the Supreme who is also dhātā and vidhātā reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: the highest Īśvara may be praised in Śaiva terms without denying Viṣṇu’s supremacy—pointing to a shared, non-sectarian Supreme.