Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13
Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation
साधु साधु महाभाग यत्पृष्टं भवता मुने / वक्ष्ये गुह्यतमाद् गुह्यं श्रुण्वन्त्वन्ये महर्षयः
sādhu sādhu mahābhāga yatpṛṣṭaṃ bhavatā mune / vakṣye guhyatamād guhyaṃ śruṇvantvanye maharṣayaḥ
« Bien, bien ! » Ô muni grandement fortuné, ta question est des plus justes. Je vais exposer un enseignement secret, plus caché que le plus caché ; que les autres grands ṛṣi écoutent aussi.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) addressing the inquiring sage (in the presence of other maharishis)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames the forthcoming instruction as “more secret than the most secret,” indicating that the teaching concerns an inner, experiential truth—classically understood as knowledge of the Self beyond ordinary ritual or discourse.
This verse functions as a preface: it signals that an esoteric yogic/dharmic instruction is about to be taught to qualified listeners (muni and maharishis), aligning with the Purana’s pattern of transmitting higher Yoga-shastra only after a proper inquiry.
By presenting Lord Kurma as the revealer of “the most secret” doctrine to sages, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where Vishnu teaches truths that harmonize with Shaiva yogic currents (such as Pashupata-oriented esotericism) rather than opposing them.