Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Puṣkara-dvīpa, Lokāloka, and the Measure of the Brahmāṇḍa

Cosmic Egg

Devanagari script

अनन्तत्वमनन्तस्य यतः संख्या न विद्यते / तदव्यक्तमिति ज्ञेयं तद् ब्रह्म परमं पदम्

Transliteration

anantatvamanantasya yataḥ saṃkhyā na vidyate / tadavyaktamiti jñeyaṃ tad brahma paramaṃ padam

Translation

Because the Infinite is endless in nature—there being no number or measure for It—know That as the Unmanifest (Avyakta). That is Brahman, the Supreme Abode.

Word by Word

• अनन्तत्वम्: infinitude
• अनन्तत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्तत्व (प्रातिपदिक; अनन्त + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; abstract noun (भाववाचक)

• अनन्तस्य: of the Infinite
• अनन्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive (सम्बन्ध)

• यतः: because/from which
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; causal/relative adverb (हेतौ/यस्मात्-अर्थे)

• संख्या: number; count
• संख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/सत्तायाम् ‘exists/is found’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Viśeṣya-predicative (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; predicate adjective

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (उद्धरण-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotative particle (इत्यर्थे)

• ज्ञेयम्: is to be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया; विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्/अनीयर्-भाव), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; gerundive/passive necessity ‘to be known’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; qualifies पदम्

• पदम्: state; abode; position
• पदम्: Apposition/Predicate (समानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna / sages (contextual teaching on Brahman)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Avyakta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme reality as infinite and immeasurable, beyond all counting and limitation; this limitless principle is identified as Avyakta and as Brahman, the highest goal—pointing to the Atman’s ultimate identity with the unconditioned Absolute.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports nirguṇa/avyakta-dhyāna: meditation that withdraws from measurable forms and concepts, resting awareness in the unmanifest, limitless Brahman—an orientation compatible with Kurma Purana’s broader Yoga-shastra emphasis on inner absorption (samādhi) beyond sense-objects.

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

By identifying the Supreme as the one, unmanifest Brahman beyond all measures, it frames sectarian forms as expressions of a single ultimate reality—aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where Shiva and Vishnu converge in the same highest Brahman.