Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 20
Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta
Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman
गुह्याद् गुह्यतमं ज्ञानं यतीनामेतदीरितम् / यो ऽनुतिष्ठेन्महेशेन सो ऽश्नुते योगमैश्वरम्
guhyād guhyatamaṃ jñānaṃ yatīnāmetadīritam / yo 'nutiṣṭhenmaheśena so 'śnute yogamaiśvaram
આ જ્ઞાન ગુહ્યમાં પણ ગુહ્યતમ છે, યતિઓ માટે પ્રકટ કરાયું છે. જે મહેશ (શિવ)ના ઉપદેશ મુજબ તેનું અનુષ્ઠાન કરે, તે ઐશ્વર્યમય દિવ્ય યોગ પ્રાપ્ત કરે છે।
Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing in a Śaiva-affirming synthesis (Iśvara-centered Yoga, attributed to Maheśa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It frames liberation-oriented knowledge as “guhyatama”—accessible through disciplined practice—implying that realization of the Self is not merely conceptual but attained by Īśvara-centered Yoga, where the aspirant reaches a divine, sovereign state (aiśvara).
The verse emphasizes faithful observance (anutiṣṭhāna) of the esoteric discipline taught by Maheśa—i.e., a Pāśupata/Īśvara-oriented yoga grounded in renunciation, steadiness, and devotion to the Lord as the effective means to attain aiśvara-yoga.
Although spoken within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa framework, it credits Maheśa as the authoritative teacher of the secret yoga, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva’s yoga is affirmed as a valid Īśvara-path under the broader divine unity.