Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 26

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

किं कारणमिदं कृत्स्नं को ऽनुसंसरते सदा / कश्चिदात्मा च का मुक्तिः संसारः किंनिमित्तकः

Transliteration

kiṃ kāraṇamidaṃ kṛtsnaṃ ko 'nusaṃsarate sadā / kaścidātmā ca kā muktiḥ saṃsāraḥ kiṃnimittakaḥ

Translation

¿Cuál es la causa de este universo entero? ¿Quién es el que transmigra sin cesar? ¿Existe en verdad el Sí mismo (Ātman)? ¿Y qué es la liberación (mokṣa)? ¿Por qué motivo surge el saṃsāra?

Word by Word

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• कारणम्: cause, reason
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• कृत्स्नम्: entire, whole
• कृत्स्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying इदम्

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• अनुसंसरते: wanders/follows along in transmigration
• अनुसंसरते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-सम्-√सृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• कश्चित्: someone/any (entity)
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; indefinite pronoun (कश्चित्)

• आत्मा: self, soul
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• का: what (f.)?/which?
• का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• संसारः: worldly existence, transmigration
• संसारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• निमित्तकः: having as cause; caused by
• निमित्तकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निमित्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; adjective qualifying संसारः

Speaker

King Indradyumna (the seeker) addressing Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) in the Ishvara Gita dialogue frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Mukti
• Samsara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the core inquiry—whether a real Ātman exists distinct from changing body-mind experience—setting up the Ishvara Gita’s teaching that liberation depends on knowing the true Self rather than merely ritual action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is a diagnostic question-list that introduces the need for Yoga as a solution to saṁsāra—typically answered in the Ishvara Gita through discipline of mind, discrimination (viveka), devotion to Īśvara, and Shaiva-Pashupata oriented practice aligned with dharma.

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

By placing the inquiry into Ātman, mukti, and saṁsāra before Lord Kūrma in the Ishvara Gita setting, it supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: liberation-teaching is presented through Vishnu’s form while resonating with Shaiva/Pāśupata philosophical vocabulary.