Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42
Kapardeśvara at Piśācamocana — Liberation of a Piśāca and the Brahmapāra Hymn
न यत्र नामादिविशेषकॢप्ति- र् न संदृशे तिष्ठति यत्स्वरूपम् / तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणतो ऽस्मि नित्यं स्वयंभुवं त्वां शरणं प्रपद्ये
na yatra nāmādiviśeṣakḷpti- r na saṃdṛśe tiṣṭhati yatsvarūpam / taṃ brahmapāraṃ praṇato 'smi nityaṃ svayaṃbhuvaṃ tvāṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye
I bow forever to that Supreme Brahman—beyond all limits—in which no construction of distinctions such as name and the rest can arise, and whose essential nature cannot be grasped by ordinary perception. O Self-born Lord, I take refuge in You alone.
A devotee/sage addressing the Supreme Lord (identified with Brahman and the Self-born Ishvara)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It describes the Supreme as beyond all name-based distinctions and beyond ordinary perception, pointing to a non-dual Brahman/Atman that cannot be objectified yet is the ultimate refuge.
The verse emphasizes apophatic contemplation (neti-neti style negation of name/form) and surrender (śaraṇāgati) to the Self-born Lord—both central supports for meditative absorption leading toward moksha in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented theology.
By praising the one Supreme beyond perceptible form and taking refuge in the Self-born Ishvara, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: sectarian names differ, but the ultimate reality (Ishvara/Brahman) is one.