Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 82

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

वेत्थ नारायणानन्तमात्मानं परमेश्वरम् / महादेवं महायोगं स्वेन योगेन केशव

Transliteration

vettha nārāyaṇānantamātmānaṃ parameśvaram / mahādevaṃ mahāyogaṃ svena yogena keśava

Translation

Ô Keśava, par ton propre Yoga tu connais Nārāyaṇa l’Infini, le Soi suprême et le Seigneur suprême : Mahādeva lui-même, le Grand Yogin, l’essence même du Yoga.

Word by Word

• वेत्थ: you know
• वेत्थ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (you know)

• नारायणानन्तम्: Nārāyaṇa the endless
• नारायणानन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa-ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: अनन्तः नारायणः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: परमः ईश्वरः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महादेवम्: the great god
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: महान् देवः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महायोगम्: the great yogin/yoga
• महायोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: महान् योगः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वेन: by your own
• स्वेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular); योगेन इति विशेषण (by one’s own)

• योगेन: by yoga; by spiritual power
• योगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• केशव: O Keśava
• केशव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Vocative)

Speaker

A sage/narrator addressing Lord Vishnu as Keśava (affirming Shiva–Vishnu non-difference)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Ananta
• Atman
• Parameshvara
• Mahadeva
• Keshava
• Yoga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Self (Ātman) with the Highest Lord (Parameśvara), showing that the ultimate reality is both inner Self and sovereign Ishvara—known as Nārāyaṇa/Ananta.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to “svena yogena”—divine Yoga as direct knowledge/realization: a yogic union that reveals the Supreme as the Great Yogin (Mahāyoga), aligning with Kurma Purana’s emphasis on disciplined God-realization (yoga as jñāna and īśvara-anusandhāna).

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

It explicitly equates Nārāyaṇa (Vishnu) with Mahādeva (Shiva), presenting a synthesis where the one Supreme Lord is spoken of through both Shaiva and Vaishnava names.