Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16
Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī
अयं स भगवानेकः साक्षान्नारायणः परः / अगच्छत्यधुना देवः पुराणपुरुषः स्वयम्
ayaṃ sa bhagavānekaḥ sākṣānnārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ / agacchatyadhunā devaḥ purāṇapuruṣaḥ svayam
«C’est bien Lui, l’unique Bhagavān suprême : Nārāyaṇa en personne, manifesté directement et pourtant transcendant. À présent, le Dieu, l’Homme primordial, s’en va de son propre gré.»
Narrator (Purana voice), describing Narayana’s manifest presence and departure within the episode
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By calling Bhagavān “ekaḥ” (one) and “paraḥ” (transcendent), the verse frames the Supreme as a singular, ultimate reality that can also become “sākṣāt” (directly manifest), aligning transcendence with immanence.
No specific technique is listed, but the emphasis on “sākṣāt” (direct realization) supports the Kurma Purana’s yogic aim: direct vision/recognition of Īśvara through disciplined devotion, contemplation, and inner steadiness—core to its broader Pashupata-leaning spiritual ethos.
While Shiva is not named here, the Purana’s synthesis is reflected in the theological style: the “one Supreme Lord” language is compatible with non-sectarian Īśvara-doctrine, where the highest reality can be praised through Vaishnava (Nārāyaṇa) or Shaiva idioms without contradiction.