Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

त्वमात्मा सर्वभूतानां प्रधानं प्रकृतिः परा / वैराग्यैश्वर्यनिरतो रागातीतो निरञ्जनः

Transliteration

tvamātmā sarvabhūtānāṃ pradhānaṃ prakṛtiḥ parā / vairāgyaiśvaryanirato rāgātīto nirañjanaḥ

Translation

Tu es le Soi de tous les êtres; tu es le Pradhāna, la Prakṛti suprême. Établi dans le détachement et la souveraine puissance, tu es au-delà de l’attachement, parfaitement sans tache.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); उत्तमपुरुषार्थे (2nd person); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• आत्मा: Self, soul
• आत्मा: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रधानम्: the Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधानम्: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); अत्र विधेयपदं (predicative)

• प्रकृतिः: Nature, Prakṛti
• प्रकृतिः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परा: supreme
• परा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier) प्रकृतिः इति

• वैराग्यैश्वर्यनिरतः: devoted to dispassion and lordly power
• वैराग्यैश्वर्यनिरतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैराग्य-ऐश्वर्य-निरत (प्रातिपदिक; वैराग्य + ऐश्वर्य + निरत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—वैराग्ये ऐश्वर्ये च निरतः (locative sense)

• रागातीतः: beyond attachment
• रागातीतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राग-अतीत (प्रातिपदिक; राग + अतीत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—रागम् अतीतः (accusative relation)

• निरञ्जनः: stainless, pure
• निरञ्जनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

A devotee/sage addressing the Supreme Lord (Īśvara) in praise (stuti) within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga theological narration

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Pradhana
• Prakriti
• Ishvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Lord as the indwelling Self of all beings—immanent as Ātman—yet untouched (nirañjana) and beyond personal craving (rāgātīta), indicating a transcendental, non-attached sovereignty.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds vairāgya (dispassion) as a core Yogic qualification and presents aiśvarya (spiritual lordship) as aligned with purity and non-attachment—pointing to meditation on the stainless Īśvara as the support of liberation.

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

By using shared Īśvara-language—sovereignty (aiśvarya), stainlessness (nirañjana), and the inner Self (ātmā)—it fits the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the Supreme is praised in terms resonant with both Shaiva and Vaishnava theology.