Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 115

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

दृष्टमात्रो भगवतात ब्रह्मणार्चिर्मयो मुनिः / अपश्यदैश्वरं तेजः शान्तं सर्वत्रगं शिवम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭamātro bhagavatāta brahmaṇārcirmayo muniḥ / apaśyadaiśvaraṃ tejaḥ śāntaṃ sarvatragaṃ śivam

Translation

ભગવાનનું માત્ર દર્શન થતાં જ, બ્રહ્મ-અર્ચિસમ મુનિએ ઐશ્વર્યયુક્ત દિવ્ય તેજ જોયું—જે શાંત, સર્વત્ર વ્યાપક, અને સર્વત્ર શિવમય છે।

Word by Word

• दृष्टमात्रः: having merely seen
• दृष्टमात्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—दृष्टम् एव मात्रम् यस्य (Masculine, Nominative singular; ‘only having seen’)

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental singular)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahman / by the Absolute
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental singular)

• अर्चिर्मयः: made of radiance
• अर्चिर्मयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अर्चिषां मयः/अर्चिर्मयः (Masculine, Nominative singular; ‘consisting of rays’)

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्/दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, imperfect, parasmaipada)

• ऐश्वरम्: divine, lordly
• ऐश्वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• तेजः: splendor
• तेजः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; peaceful)

• सर्वत्रगम्: all-pervading
• सर्वत्रगम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—सर्वत्र गच्छति इति (Neuter, Accusative singular; all-pervading)

• शिवम्: auspicious
• शिवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; auspicious)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the sage’s direct vision of Bhagavan/Īśvara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Brahman
• Muni
• Ishvara
• Shiva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Īśvara-tejas—peaceful, all-pervading, and auspicious—implying the Self is realized not as a limited form but as a pervasive, tranquil radiance identical with Brahman’s light.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes darśana (direct contemplative vision): through inner purity and Brahman-oriented absorption, the sage perceives the Lord’s all-pervading tejas—an experiential hallmark aligned with Pāśupata-style devotion joined to meditative insight.

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

By describing the Blessed Lord’s radiance as “Śiva” (the auspicious, all-pervading reality), it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where Bhagavan’s supreme nature can be spoken of in Śaiva terms without contradicting Vaiṣṇava devotion.