Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

आनन्दमक्षरं ब्रह्म केवलं निष्कलं परम् / योगिनस्तत् प्रपश्यन्ति महादेव्याः परं पदम्

Transliteration

ānandamakṣaraṃ brahma kevalaṃ niṣkalaṃ param / yoginastat prapaśyanti mahādevyāḥ paraṃ padam

Translation

Ce Brahman est la béatitude même : impérissable (akṣara), absolu, sans parties et suprême. Les yogins le contemplent directement comme l’état le plus élevé : la demeure suprême de la Grande Déesse, Mahādevī.

Word by Word

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे नपुंसकवत्), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ब्रह्म-विशेषणरूपेण

• अक्षरम्: imperishable
• अक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ब्रह्म-विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (रूपम्: ब्रह्म)

• केवलम्: alone/absolute
• केवलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निष्कलम्: partless/without divisions
• निष्कलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• योगिनः: yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रपश्यन्ति: behold
• प्रपश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• महादेव्याः: of the Great Goddess
• महादेव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पदम्-विशेषणम्

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Yogins
• Mahadevi (Shakti)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Brahman characterized by bliss, imperishability, non-duality, and partlessness—known not as an object of belief but as a direct realization by yogins.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic direct perception (prapaśyanti)—the culmination of disciplined meditation where the seeker realizes the partless, imperishable Brahman beyond mental constructions, aligning with the Ishvara Gita’s liberating yoga orientation.

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

By framing the supreme reality as Brahman and also as Mahādevī’s highest abode, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where sectarian forms converge into one non-dual supreme principle honored across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.