Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

कलिकल्मषसंभूता येषामुपहता मतिः / न तेषां वेदितुं शक्यं स्थानं तत् परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

kalikalmaṣasaṃbhūtā yeṣāmupahatā matiḥ / na teṣāṃ vedituṃ śakyaṃ sthānaṃ tat parameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

Ceux dont l’intelligence est abattue, née de la souillure de l’âge de Kali, ne peuvent connaître la Demeure suprême du Parameṣṭhin, le Seigneur Très-Haut.

Word by Word

• kali-kalmaṣa-saṃbhūtā: born from the impurity of Kali
• kali-kalmaṣa-saṃbhūtā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक) + kalmaṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhūta (कृदन्त; √bhū धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कलिकल्मषयोः संभूता)

• yeṣām: of whom
• yeṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री/नपुंसक (सर्वनाम), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• upahatā: struck/afflicted
• upahatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upahata (कृदन्त; √han धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण

• matiḥ: intellect, understanding
• matiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री/नपुंसक (सर्वनाम), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• veditum: to know
• veditum: Karma (कर्म/Object of ability)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद् धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक; अर्थः—‘ज्ञातुम्/वेदितुम्’

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Pradhāna-vidheya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (कृदन्त; √śak शक् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; शक्य-प्रत्यय (potential/gerundive), विधेय-विशेषण

• sthānam: abode, place
• sthānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; निर्देशक-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• parameṣṭhinaḥ: of the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• parameṣṭhinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna on dharma and spiritual decline in Kali-yuga

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kali-yuga
• Parameṣṭhin

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies the Supreme is a realizable “Abode/State” (sthāna) of the Highest Lord, but it is inaccessible to a mind clouded by Kali-born impurity—suggesting realization depends on inner purity and right knowledge, not mere argument.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to the need for purification of intellect (mati) as a prerequisite—aligned with Kurma Purana’s Yoga-oriented discipline (self-restraint, devotion to Īśvara, and contemplative knowledge) that removes Kali’s kalmaṣa and enables realization of the supreme state.

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

By using the universal title Parameṣṭhin for the Supreme Lord, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest reality is one Īśvara, approached through integrated Shaiva-Vaishnava devotional and yogic frameworks.