Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

आत्मन्यात्मानमाधाय शिखान्तान्तरमास्थितम् / धायायन्ति देवमीशानं येन सर्वमिदं ततम्

Transliteration

ātmanyātmānamādhāya śikhāntāntaramāsthitam / dhāyāyanti devamīśānaṃ yena sarvamidaṃ tatam

Translation

Placing the Self within the Self, they meditate on the Lord Īśāna, abiding in the inner space at the crown of the head—He by whom all this universe is pervaded.

Word by Word

• ātmani: in the self
• ātmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc./7th), एकवचन

• ātmānam: the self (as object)
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन

• ādhāya: having placed
• ādhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), ‘having placed/established’

• śikhā-anta-antaram: the inner space at the end of the śikhā (topknot)
• śikhā-anta-antaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः = शिखायाः अन्ते अन्तरम् (the inner space at the end/top of the tuft)

• āsthitam: situated, abiding
• āsthitam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) = स्थितम्/आस्थितम्

• dhāyāyanti: they meditate
• dhāyāyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai/√dhyā (धातु; ध्यानार्थ)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन

• īśānam: Īśāna (the Lord)
• īśānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; देवम् इशानम् (appositional)

• yena: by whom / by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr./3rd), एकवचन

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन

• tatam: pervaded, spread
• tatam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tata (कृदन्त; √tan तन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the Ishvara-Gita doctrine with Shaiva (Ishana) focus

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishana
• Atman

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches interiorization: the seeker establishes awareness in the Self itself, and realizes the Lord (Īśāna) as the all-pervading reality that fills the entire cosmos.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A dhyāna practice akin to Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: stabilizing consciousness inwardly and meditating on Īśāna located in the subtle inner space at the crown (śikhānta), while knowing Him as omnipresent.

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

Within the Ishvara-Gita frame spoken by Kurma (Vishnu), the object of meditation is Īśāna (a Shaiva epithet), reflecting the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the Supreme Lord is approached through shared divine identity and omnipresence.