Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

महाविमानमध्यस्था महानिद्रात्महेतुका / सर्वसाधारणी सूक्ष्मा ह्यविद्या पारमार्थिका

Transliteration

mahāvimānamadhyasthā mahānidrātmahetukā / sarvasādhāraṇī sūkṣmā hyavidyā pāramārthikā

Translation

Avidyā (l’ignorance), demeurant au cœur du grand « véhicule » cosmique (l’ordre manifesté), est la cause enracinée dans le Soi qui engendre la Grande Somnolence (mahānidrā). Universelle à tous les êtres, d’une subtilité extrême, elle doit, dans l’enquête ultime, être reconnue comme le principe fondamental à dépasser.

Word by Word

• महाविमानमध्यस्था: situated in the middle of the great vimāna
• महाविमानमध्यस्था: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + विमान + मध्य + स्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘महाविमानस्य मध्ये स्थिता’ (situated in the middle of the great aerial car/palace)

• महानिद्रात्महेतुका: the essential cause of great sleep
• महानिद्रात्महेतुका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + निद्रा + आत्मन् + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘महानिद्रायाः आत्महेतुः’ (the essential cause of great sleep)

• सर्वसाधारणी: common to all
• सर्वसाधारणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + साधारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सूक्ष्मा: subtle
• सूक्ष्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphatic/causal ‘indeed/for’

• अविद्या: ignorance
• अविद्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• पारमार्थिका: ultimate, metaphysical
• पारमार्थिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘pertaining to ultimate reality’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Avidya
• Atman

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that bondage is not due to the Atman itself but to avidyā—an extremely subtle, universal misapprehension that overlays the Self-sense and produces the ‘great sleep’ of spiritual unawareness; liberation comes by discerning and transcending this avidyā.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to viveka (discriminative insight) as the yogic remedy: by subtle inward inquiry and steady contemplation, one detects avidyā’s presence in the mind and dissolves it—aligning with Ishvara Gita-style discipline that culminates in knowledge (jñāna) supported by yogic steadiness.

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

In the Ishvara Gita’s synthesis, the teaching voice of Kurma (Vishnu) conveys a Shaiva-Yogic analysis of bondage (avidyā and mahānidrā) and its cessation, reflecting a shared non-dual soteriology rather than sectarian opposition.