Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

एकान्तिनो निरालम्बा महाभागवताः परे / पश्यन्ति परमं ब्रह्म विष्णवाख्यं तमसः परं

Transliteration

ekāntino nirālambā mahābhāgavatāḥ pare / paśyanti paramaṃ brahma viṣṇavākhyaṃ tamasaḥ paraṃ

Translation

Ces dévots suprêmes, d’un seul élan et sans appui extérieur, contemplent le Brahman suprême, nommé Viṣṇu, au-delà des ténèbres de l’ignorance.

Word by Word

• ekāntinaḥ: single-minded devotees
• ekāntinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekāntin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nirālambāḥ: without support; independent
• nirālambāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirālamba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण to एकान्तिनः

• mahā-bhāgavatāḥ: great Bhāgavatas (devotees)
• mahā-bhāgavatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• pare: supreme; exalted
• pare: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण to महाभागवताः

• paśyanti: they see
• paśyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to ब्रह्म

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• viṣṇu-ākhyam: called ‘Viṣṇu’
• viṣṇu-ākhyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to ब्रह्म

• tamasaḥ: from darkness
• tamasaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative) एकवचन (Singular)

• param: beyond; transcendent
• param: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to ब्रह्म

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahman
• Bhagavata
• Tamas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Reality as Parabrahman—transcending tamas (ignorance)—and indicates that realized devotees directly “see” that Absolute, here named Viṣṇu, implying a non-dual realization where the highest truth is beyond mental darkness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights ekānta-bhakti (one-pointed devotion) coupled with inner independence (nirālamba)—a yogic inwardness where reliance on external props is dropped and direct realization (darśana) of Brahman becomes possible, aligning devotion with contemplative insight.

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

By identifying the Supreme Brahman with the name Viṣṇu while speaking in the Ishvara Gita’s integrative theology, it supports the Purana’s synthesis: the highest Lord is one Absolute, approached through devotion and yoga beyond sectarian division.