Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 67

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

त्वं हि सर्वजगत्साक्षी विश्वो नारायणः परः / त्रातुमर्हस्यनन्तात्मंस्त्वमेव शरणं गतिः

Transliteration

tvaṃ hi sarvajagatsākṣī viśvo nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ / trātumarhasyanantātmaṃstvameva śaraṇaṃ gatiḥ

Translation

You indeed are the Witness of the entire universe—the all-pervading Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme. O Infinite-Souled One, you are able to protect; you alone are my refuge and my final resort.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• सर्वजगत्साक्षी: witness of all the world
• सर्वजगत्साक्षी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-जगत्-साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक; components: सर्व + जगत् + साक्षिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विश्वः: all-pervading/universal
• विश्वः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण for नारायणः

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परः: supreme
• परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रातुम्: to protect
• त्रातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive/तुमन्त), अव्ययभाव

• अर्हसि: you are able/you ought
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनन्तात्मन्: O infinite-souled one
• अनन्तात्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; components: अनन्त + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Adhikarana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate nominative

• गतिः: goal/way
• गतिः: Adhikarana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate nominative

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant addressing Lord Nārāyaṇa (contextually within the Kurma Purana’s devotional dialogue framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as “sarva-jagat-sākṣī” (the Witness of all worlds) and “anantātman” (infinite Self), indicating a transcendent, all-pervading Lord who underlies and observes the cosmos.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (surrender) and one-pointed reliance on Īśvara—an inner discipline aligned with Purāṇic yoga where devotion, remembrance, and refuge in the Supreme stabilize the mind.

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

By focusing on the single Supreme Witness and Protector, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology: sectarian names differ, but the ultimate Īśvara is one—approachable through devotion and yogic surrender.