Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

ईश्वरेण पुरा प्रोक्तं ज्ञानमेतत् सनातनम् / गूढमप्राज्ञविद्विष्टं सेवितं सूक्ष्मदर्शिभिः

Transliteration

īśvareṇa purā proktaṃ jñānametat sanātanam / gūḍhamaprājñavidviṣṭaṃ sevitaṃ sūkṣmadarśibhiḥ

Translation

Cette connaissance éternelle fut jadis enseignée par le Seigneur Īśvara. Elle est profonde et cachée—détestée des ignorants—mais chérie et mise en pratique par ceux qui discernent la vérité subtile.

Word by Word

• ईश्वरेण: by the Lord
• ईश्वरेण: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kālādhi-karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• प्रोक्तम्: spoken, taught
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गूढम्: hidden
• गूढम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अप्राज्ञविद्विष्टम्: hated by the ignorant
• अप्राज्ञविद्विष्टम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्राज्ञ-विद्विष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: अप्राज्ञ (ignorant) + विद्विष्ट (hated) = ‘hated by the ignorant’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सेवितम्: practised, resorted to
• सेवितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सूक्ष्मदर्शिभिः: by subtle seers
• सूक्ष्मदर्शिभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्मदर्शिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समास: सूक्ष्म (subtle) + दर्शिन् (seer)

Speaker

Narrator/Teacher voice within the Kurma Purana’s didactic discourse (attributed to Īśvara’s ancient instruction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Jñāna (spiritual knowledge)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that the highest truth is subtle and not grasped by ordinary, untrained intellect; it is realized by refined discernment—suggesting Atman/Brahman is not merely conceptual but directly known by ‘subtle-seers’ through inner insight.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to jñāna-oriented sādhana: cultivating viveka (discernment), inner subtlety (sūkṣma-darśana), and sustained practice (sevana) of the Lord-taught doctrine—foundational attitudes that support Pāśupata-style discipline and contemplative Yoga in the Kurma Purana.

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

By centering the teaching in ‘Īśvara’ and emphasizing timeless jñāna, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the Supreme Lord as the source of liberating knowledge, bridging Shaiva and Vaishnava devotion through a shared, non-sectarian Īśvara principle.