Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 4

Īśvara-gītā: Brahman as All-Pervading—Kāla, Prakṛti–Puruṣa, Tattva-Evolution, and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

सर्वोपमानरहितं प्रमाणातीतगोचरम् / निर्विकल्पं निराभासं सर्वावासं परामृतम्

Transliteration

sarvopamānarahitaṃ pramāṇātītagocaram / nirvikalpaṃ nirābhāsaṃ sarvāvāsaṃ parāmṛtam

Translation

That Supreme is beyond all comparison, beyond the reach of the means of knowledge; free from mental constructions and without any limiting appearance—dwelling in all as their inner abode, the highest nectar of immortality.

Word by Word

• सर्व-उपमान-रहितम्: without any comparison/analogy
• सर्व-उपमान-रहितम्: विशेषण (कर्मविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उपमान (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वैः उपमानैः रहितम् / सर्वोपमानरहितम्)

• प्रमाण-अतीत-गोचरम्: beyond the range of means of knowledge
• प्रमाण-अतीत-गोचरम्: विशेषण (कर्मविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (कृदन्त; इ धातु) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रमाणम् अतीतः यस्य गोचरः)

• निर्विकल्पम्: free from conceptual distinctions
• निर्विकल्पम्: विशेषण (कर्मविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निराभासम्: without (phenomenal) appearance
• निराभासम्: विशेषण (कर्मविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्व-आवासम्: abode of all
• सर्व-आवासम्: विशेषण (कर्मविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सर्वेषाम् आवासः)

• पर-अमृतम्: supreme nectar/immortality
• पर-अमृतम्: विशेषण (कर्मविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (परम् अमृतम्)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)
• Brahman (Supreme Reality)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as incomparable and beyond pramāṇas, not grasped by concepts (nirvikalpa) or limiting appearances (nirābhāsa), yet present in all as the indwelling ground (sarvāvāsa) that grants immortality (parāmṛta).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to nirvikalpa-oriented contemplation: withdrawing from conceptualization and sense-based appearances to meditate on the formless indweller—an Ishvara-centered discipline aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata Yoga emphasis on inner realization of the Lord.

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

By describing a single, formless Supreme beyond attributes yet dwelling in all, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Shiva and Vishnu are understood as expressions of one Ishvara approached through integrated Shaiva-Vaishnava devotion and Yoga.