Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 137

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

अब्रुवन् हृष्टमनसः कृष्णद्वैपायनं प्रभुम् / साक्षादेव हृषीकेशं सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्

Transliteration

abruvan hṛṣṭamanasaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ prabhum / sākṣādeva hṛṣīkeśaṃ sarvalokamaheśvaram

Translation

Le cœur en joie, ils s’adressèrent au vénérable Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa), le tenant pour le Seigneur lui‑même : Hṛṣīkeśa manifesté en personne, le Grand Souverain de tous les mondes.

Word by Word

• अब्रुवन्: they said
• अब्रुवन्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• हृष्ट-मनसः: with delighted minds
• हृष्ट-मनसः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of अब्रुवन्-कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose minds are delighted’

• कृष्ण-द्वैपायनम्: Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• कृष्ण-द्वैपायनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana)

• प्रभुम्: the lord
• प्रभुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘directly/in person’

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्धसूचक (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• हृषीकेशम्: Hṛṣīkeśa
• हृषीकेशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीक (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lord of the senses)

• सर्व-लोक-महेश्वरम्: great lord of all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-महेश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + महा (पूर्वपद) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; बहुपद-षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘great lord of all worlds’

Speaker

Sages/assembled seers (addressing Vyasa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• Hṛṣīkeśa (Vishnu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying Vyāsa with Hṛṣīkeśa and “the Great Lord of all worlds,” the verse points to the Supreme as one reality that can be recognized through a realized teacher—manifest yet transcendent, sovereign over all domains of existence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the yogic prerequisite of right recognition (pratyabhijñā) and guru-bhakti: seeing the divine presence in the enlightened guide. This supports the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara-Gita emphasis that disciplined practice (yama-niyama, dhyāna) culminates in direct apprehension of Īśvara.

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

Using the epithet “sarvaloka-maheśvara” (a title often associated with Maheśvara/Śiva) for Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu) reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology—one Supreme Īśvara spoken of through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava names.