Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

ते द्वन्द्वमोहनिर्मुक्ताः परं वैराग्यमास्थिताः / विदित्वा परमं भावं न सृष्टौ दधिरे मतिम्

Transliteration

te dvandvamohanirmuktāḥ paraṃ vairāgyamāsthitāḥ / viditvā paramaṃ bhāvaṃ na sṛṣṭau dadhire matim

Translation

Délivrés de l’illusion des dualités, ils demeurèrent dans le détachement suprême. Ayant réalisé l’État suprême de l’Être, ils ne portèrent plus leur esprit vers la création et le devenir du monde.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dvandva-moha-nirmuktāḥ: freed from delusion of dualities
• dvandva-moha-nirmuktāḥ: Karta-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvandva (प्रातिपदिक) + moha (प्रातिपदिक) + nirmukta (कृदन्त; नि√मुच्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुषसमास), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); nirmukta = past passive participle (क्त) of नि√मुच् (to release)

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vairāgyam: dispassion
• vairāgyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• āsthitāḥ: having resorted to
• āsthitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āsthita (कृदन्त; आ√स्था)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवत्-प्राय; क्त) of आ√स्था (to resort/undertake); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• viditvā: having known
• viditvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) of √विद् (to know): “having known”

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhāvam: state/essence
• bhāvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• sṛṣṭau: in creation
• sṛṣṭau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadhire: they placed/held
• dadhire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद) of √धृ (to hold/place)

• matim: mind/intent
• matim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)
• dvandva (pairs of opposites)
• vairagya (dispassion)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a “parama bhāva” (supreme state of Being) known directly, after which the mind no longer clings to the realm of manifested creation—indicating Self-realization beyond dualities.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the classic Yogic markers of progress: release from dvandvas (heat/cold, pleasure/pain, praise/blame) and establishment in vairāgya, which in the Ishvara Gita frame supports steady contemplation of Ishvara leading to liberation.

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

By teaching liberation through realization of the “supreme state” and detachment—core to both Shaiva (Pashupata) and Vaishnava (Ishvara-bhakti/jnana) streams—the Kurma Purana presents a harmonized, non-sectarian path where the Supreme Lord is approached in unity.