Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 1
Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga
इति श्रीकूर्मपुराणे षट्साहस्त्र्यां संहितायामुपरिविभागे (ईश्वरगीतासु) प्रथमो ऽध्यायः ईश्वर उवाच अवाच्यमेतद् विज्ञानमात्मगुह्यं सनातनम् / यन्न देवा विजानन्ति यतन्तो ऽपि द्विजातयः
iti śrīkūrmapurāṇe ṣaṭsāhastryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuparivibhāge (īśvaragītāsu) prathamo 'dhyāyaḥ īśvara uvāca avācyametad vijñānamātmaguhyaṃ sanātanam / yanna devā vijānanti yatanto 'pi dvijātayaḥ
Thus, in the Śrī Kūrma Purāṇa, in the six‑thousand‑verse Saṃhitā, in the latter division—within the Īśvara‑gītā—begins the first chapter. The Lord said: “This knowledge is inexpressible—an eternal, secret wisdom of the Self—one that even the gods do not truly comprehend, nor even the twice‑born, though they strive.”
Īśvara (Lord Kurma/Vishnu as the Supreme Teacher within the Īśvara-gītā)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents Self-knowledge (vijñāna) as eternal and inwardly hidden (ātma-guhya), ultimately beyond verbal description—implying realization rather than mere conceptual learning.
The verse implies that effort alone is insufficient unless it becomes direct realization; in the Īśvara-gītā context this points toward disciplined yogic practice (including Pāśupata-oriented inner restraint, contemplation, and devotion to Īśvara) culminating in experiential knowledge.
By framing the teaching as Īśvara’s inexpressible Self-knowledge, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis: the Supreme Lord (Īśvara) is the source of liberating wisdom, harmonizing Śaiva yogic language (Pāśupata emphasis) with Vaiṣṇava revelation (Kūrma/Vishnu as teacher).