Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 43
Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga
अन्ये च योगिनो विप्रा ऐश्वर्यासक्तचेतसः / मज्जन्ति तत्र तत्रैव न त्वात्मैषामिति श्रुतिः
anye ca yogino viprā aiśvaryāsaktacetasaḥ / majjanti tatra tatraiva na tvātmaiṣāmiti śrutiḥ
हे विप्र ऋषियों! अन्य योगी, जिनका चित्त ऐश्वर्य और सिद्धियों में आसक्त है, वे उन्हीं-उन्हीं उपलब्धियों में बार-बार डूब जाते हैं; पर श्रुति कहती है—“वह इनके लिए आत्मा नहीं है।”
Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching the sages (viprāḥ) in a yoga-śāstra context
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It distinguishes Ātman from all acquired yogic attainments: even refined powers (aiśvarya/siddhi) are not the Self, and attachment to them keeps one immersed in conditioned states rather than liberation.
The verse highlights the yogic pitfall of siddhi-attachment and implicitly recommends vairāgya (dispassion) and ātmavicāra (discernment of the Self) as essential disciplines in the Kurma Purana’s yoga teaching.
By grounding yoga in śruti-based Ātman-realization rather than sectarian goals, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where liberation transcends power-seeking and aligns with the shared Shaiva–Vaishnava ideal of the one Supreme Reality.