Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

तस्मादद्वैतमेवाहुर्मुनयः परमार्थतः / भेदो व्यक्तस्वभावेन सा च मायात्मसंश्रया

Transliteration

tasmādadvaitamevāhurmunayaḥ paramārthataḥ / bhedo vyaktasvabhāvena sā ca māyātmasaṃśrayā

Translation

Therefore the sages declare that, in the highest truth, Reality is non-dual alone. Any experience of difference arises from the manifest nature of appearances, and that difference rests upon Māyā, the power dependent on the Self (Ātman).

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति तद्धित/निपातप्रायः अव्यय-प्रयोगः; अपादानार्थे (ablatival sense) "therefore/from that"

• अद्वैतम्: non-duality
• अद्वैतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपदं (object)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (निपात)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृपद

• परमार्थतः: in ultimate truth
• परमार्थतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (तद्धितान्त), अर्थे—"परमार्थेन/तत्त्वतः" (in the highest sense)

• भेदः: difference; distinction
• भेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विषय/कर्तृवत् (topic)

• व्यक्त-स्वभावेन: by/through manifest nature
• व्यक्त-स्वभावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतुवाचक; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्यक्तस्य स्वभावः)

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; पूर्वोक्तस्य (भेदस्य) निर्देशः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• माया-आत्म-सम्श्रया: resting on Māyā as its basis
• माया-आत्म-सम्श्रया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सा इति); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मायायाः आत्मा/स्वरूपं यस्याः सा; अथवा मायायाम् आत्मनि संश्रयः यस्याः)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Muni (sages)
• Atman
• Maya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches that, at the level of paramārtha (ultimate truth), the Self/Reality is one without a second; multiplicity is not ultimate but an appearance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not listing techniques, it gives the key contemplative basis for Yoga: discernment (viveka) that differences belong to māyā and steady abidance in non-dual awareness—supporting meditative absorption aligned with Ishvara-centered practice.

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

By grounding all apparent distinctions in māyā and affirming a single ultimate Reality, it supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu are not ultimately separate, but expressions within one supreme principle.