Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

Īśvara-gītā: Bhakti as the Supreme Means; the Three Śaktis; Non-compelled Lordship

Devanagari script

इति गुह्यतमं ज्ञानं सर्ववेदेषु निष्ठितम् / प्रसन्नचेतसे देयं धार्मिकायाहिताग्नये

Transliteration

iti guhyatamaṃ jñānaṃ sarvavedeṣu niṣṭhitam / prasannacetase deyaṃ dhārmikāyāhitāgnaye

Translation

Thus this most secret knowledge—firmly grounded in all the Vedas—should be imparted only to one whose mind is serene, who is righteous in dharma, and who maintains the sacred fires.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-समाप्त्यर्थक (quotative/closure particle)

• गुह्यतमम्: most secret
• गुह्यतमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तमप् (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अतिशय-तमतम (superlative) विशेषण (of jñānam)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्ववेदेषु: in all the Vedas
• सर्ववेदेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व+वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वे वेदाः)

• निष्ठितम्: established/grounded
• निष्ठितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि+√स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of jñānam)

• प्रसन्नचेतसे: to one of serene mind
• प्रसन्नचेतसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसन्न+चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (चेतस्), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (प्रसन्नं चेतः यस्य)

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Vidhi (विधि/Prescription)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तव्यतार्थक-यत् (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• धार्मिकाय: to a righteous person
• धार्मिकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; recipient-qualifier

• आहिताग्नये: to one who maintains the sacred fires
• आहिताग्नये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहित+अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद/कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुष (आहितः अग्निः यस्य = one who has established the sacred fires)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the inquirer (Indradyumna) within the Purāṇic teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Agni
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not define Ātman directly; it emphasizes that the highest, Veda-grounded wisdom about ultimate reality is esoteric and must be transmitted only to a qualified, purified recipient.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to inner qualification—prasanna-cetas (mental clarity/serenity)—as essential for higher instruction, aligning with Yoga-śāstra where purity and steadiness of mind are prerequisites for contemplative realization.

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

While not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly, it reflects the Kurma Purāṇa’s synthesis: the supreme teaching is rooted in the Vedas and given through a divine teacher (Kūrma/Vishnu), consistent with Purāṇic non-sectarian transmission of one highest truth.