Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 9
Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga
न पाणिपादौ नो पायुर्न चोपस्थं द्विजोत्तमाः / न कर्ता न च भोक्ता वा न च प्रकृतिपूरुषौ / न माया नैव च प्राश्चैतन्यं परमार्थतः
na pāṇipādau no pāyurna copasthaṃ dvijottamāḥ / na kartā na ca bhoktā vā na ca prakṛtipūruṣau / na māyā naiva ca prāścaitanyaṃ paramārthataḥ
हे द्विजोत्तमो! परमार्थ में उसके न हाथ-पाँव हैं, न पायु, न उपस्थ। वह न कर्ता है, न भोक्ता; न प्रकृति-पुरुष की द्वैतता। वह न माया है, न आद्य (प्राक्) चैतन्य—यही परम सत्य है।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the sages (Ishvara Gita discourse)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It defines the Supreme as free from bodily parts and functions, and beyond agency and enjoyership; ultimately it transcends even the conceptual pair of Prakṛti–Puruṣa and the category of Māyā, pointing to an absolute, non-dual Reality.
The verse supports negation-based contemplation (neti-neti) used in meditative absorption: the practitioner withdraws identification from body, senses, and egoic agency, stabilizing awareness in the paramārtha (ultimate) standpoint central to Ishvara Gita-oriented discipline.
By teaching a single transcendent Reality beyond all dualities and attributes, the verse aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu are approached as unified in the highest truth, with sectarian forms serving as gateways to the same non-dual Supreme.