Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 2

Īśvara-gītā: Brahman as All-Pervading—Kāla, Prakṛti–Puruṣa, Tattva-Evolution, and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत् सर्वतो ऽक्षिशिरोमुखम् / सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति

Transliteration

sarvataḥ pāṇipādaṃ tat sarvato 'kṣiśiromukham / sarvataḥ śrutimalloke sarvamāvṛtya tiṣṭhati

Translation

वह परम तत्त्व सर्वत्र हाथ-पाँव वाला है; सर्वत्र उसके नेत्र, शिर और मुख हैं। जगत में सर्वत्र वह श्रवण-शक्ति से युक्त है; सबको आवृत करके वह सर्वव्यापी होकर स्थित है।

Word by Word

• सर्वतः: everywhere, on all sides
• सर्वतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: दिक्/देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place: from/on all sides)

• पाणिपादम्: (having) hands and feet
• पाणिपादम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाणि + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (पाणयः च पादाः च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इति विशेषण (having hands and feet everywhere)

• तत्: that (Supreme)
• तत्: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परब्रह्म/परमात्मा-वाचक

• सर्वतः: everywhere
• सर्वतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• अक्षिशिरोमुखम्: (having) eyes, heads, and faces
• अक्षिशिरोमुखम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षि + शिरस् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (अक्षीणि च शिरांसि च मुखानि च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इति विशेषण

• सर्वतः: everywhere
• सर्वतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• श्रुतिमत्: possessing hearing (ears)
• श्रुतिमत्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति + मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास/मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (श्रुतिः अस्य अस्ति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इति विशेषण

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आवृत्य: having covered, enveloping
• आवृत्य: पूर्वक्रिया (absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having covered)

• तिष्ठति: stands, remains
• तिष्ठति: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Ishvara Gita to the sages (contextually in dialogue tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Brahman
• Vishvarupa
• Kurma (as speaker-context)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as immanent and all-pervading—appearing as all faculties (hands, feet, eyes, hearing) in every being—so the Atman/Ishvara is not confined to one form but covers and abides in all.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports viśvarūpa-dhyāna (meditation on the all-pervading form): the yogin contemplates Ishvara present in every direction and in all beings, aiding ekāgratā (one-pointedness) and dissolution of ego-based separateness—an orientation compatible with Pāśupata-tinged Ishvara-bhakti and jñāna.

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

By describing one all-pervading Ishvara beyond limited form, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu can be revered as expressions of the same Supreme Reality that envelops the entire cosmos.