Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98
Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany
त्रिधा भिन्नो ऽस्म्यहं विष्णो ब्रह्मविष्णुहराख्यया / सर्गरक्षालयगुणैर्निर्गुणो ऽपि निरञ्जनः
tridhā bhinno 'smyahaṃ viṣṇo brahmaviṣṇuharākhyayā / sargarakṣālayaguṇairnirguṇo 'pi nirañjanaḥ
O Viṣṇu, I am spoken of as threefold—under the names Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Hara—through the functions and qualities of creation, preservation, and dissolution; yet in truth I am stainless and untouched, even though I am beyond all qualities (nirguṇa).
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the unity of the Supreme across Brahma–Vishnu–Hara functions
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that the Supreme is ultimately nirguṇa and nirañjana (beyond qualities and unstained), while appearing as distinct divine roles through the operative functions of creation, preservation, and dissolution.
The verse supports a contemplative approach central to Purāṇic Yoga: meditate on the one Reality behind changing guṇas and cosmic functions, cultivating detachment from attributes (nirguṇa-bhāvanā) and steadiness in the pure Self.
It presents Śiva (Hara) and Viṣṇu as non-separate manifestations of one stainless Supreme, differentiated only by cosmic functions—an explicit Shaiva–Vaishnava harmonization characteristic of the Kūrma Purāṇa.