Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24
Lineage of Vyāsas, Division of the Veda, and Vāsudeva/Īśāna as the Veda-Known Supreme
अवेदं परमं वेत्ति वेदनिष्ठः सदेश्वरः / स वेदवेद्यो भगवान् वेदमूर्तिर्महेश्वरः / स एव वेदो वेद्यश्च तमेवाश्रित्य मुच्यते
avedaṃ paramaṃ vetti vedaniṣṭhaḥ sadeśvaraḥ / sa vedavedyo bhagavān vedamūrtirmaheśvaraḥ / sa eva vedo vedyaśca tamevāśritya mucyate
Celui qui demeure ferme dans le Veda et voué au Seigneur en vient à connaître le Suprême, au-delà de la simple récitation du Veda. Ce Bienheureux—Mahādeva, Mahēśvara, dont la forme est le Veda même—est connaissable par le Veda. Lui seul est à la fois le Veda et ce qui doit être connu ; en prenant refuge en Lui seul, on est délivré.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis tone (Ishvara-centered instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It points to the Supreme Reality as the ultimate object of knowledge—beyond mere textual learning—realized through Vedic discipline culminating in refuge in Īśvara, who is both the ground of scripture and its final meaning.
The verse emphasizes vedaniṣṭhā (steady Vedic sādhanā: ethical discipline, mantra, worship) joined with īśvara-āśraya (taking refuge in the Lord), a bhakti-inflected yogic orientation aligned with Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning devotion to Mahēśvara as liberating.
By presenting Mahēśvara as the Vedamūrti Bhagavān taught within a Vishnu (Kurma)-voiced discourse, it reflects the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the one Īśvara is praised across names, and liberation comes from surrender to that single Supreme.