Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

यया संतरते मायां योगी संक्षीणकल्मषः / अपारतरपर्यन्तां तस्मै विद्यात्मने नमः

Transliteration

yayā saṃtarate māyāṃ yogī saṃkṣīṇakalmaṣaḥ / apārataraparyantāṃ tasmai vidyātmane namaḥ

Translation

Hommage au Vidyātman — le Soi qui est Connaissance — par la puissance duquel le yogin, ses fautes épuisées, traverse la Māyā et atteint l’autre rive, sans borne.

Word by Word

• yayā: by which
• yayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• saṃtarate: crosses over
• saṃtarate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (धातु) उपसर्गः सम्-
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• māyām: illusion, māyā
• māyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• yogī: the yogi
• yogī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• saṃkṣīṇa-kalmaṣaḥ: whose impurities are destroyed
• saṃkṣīṇa-kalmaṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃkṣīṇa (कृदन्त; √kṣi उपसर्गः सम्-) + kalmaṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—संक्षीणं कल्मषं यस्य (whose sin/impurity is exhausted)

• apāra-tara-paryantām: extending beyond the boundless, reaching the farthest limit
• apāra-tara-paryantām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apāra (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—अपारात् तरः (further than the boundless) + पर्यन्ता (having the farthest limit) (as epithet of māyā)

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vidyā-ātmane: to the one whose essence is Knowledge
• vidyā-ātmane: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—विद्या आत्मा यस्य/विद्यात्मा (epithet)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha/Prayojana (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमः + चतुर्थी construction

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Māyā
• Yogī
• Vidyātman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as Vidyātman—pure Consciousness/Knowledge itself—whose realization enables transcendence of Māyā and attainment of the limitless “far shore” (mokṣa).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to a jñāna-yoga–centered Pāśupata orientation: purification (saṃkṣīṇakalmaṣa) through disciplined practice and devotion, culminating in knowledge of the Self that carries the yogin beyond Māyā.

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

By praising the single liberating principle (Vidyātman) that grants transcendence of Māyā, it supports the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis—Śiva and Viṣṇu are taught as converging in the same highest Reality and liberating knowledge.