Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 26

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

यत्पदाक्षरसङ्गत्या परिस्पन्दनवर्जितम् / चिन्तनं सर्वशब्दानां मानसं तं जपं विदुः

Transliteration

yatpadākṣarasaṅgatyā parispandanavarjitam / cintanaṃ sarvaśabdānāṃ mānasaṃ taṃ japaṃ viduḥ

Translation

Kontemplasi yang, melalui penyatuan batin dengan suku kata mantra, tanpa getaran atau gerak lahir, serta merenungkan makna semua kata mantra—itulah yang para bijak kenal sebagai mānasa-japa.

Word by Word

• yat: which (that)
• yat: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• pada-akṣara-saṅgatyā: by the connection/sequence of word-syllables
• pada-akṣara-saṅgatyā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘pada-akṣara’ (word-syllable) + ‘saṅgati’ (connection/sequence)

• parispandana-varjitam: devoid of (physical) movement
• parispandana-varjitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√spand (स्पन्द् धातु) (प्रातिपदिक: parispandana) + varjita (√vṛj/√varj क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘parispandana’ (movement) + ‘varjita’ (devoid of)

• cintanam: contemplation
• cintanam: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cintana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-śabdānām: of all words (mantras)
• sarva-śabdānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारयः—‘all’ qualifying ‘words/sounds’

• mānasam: mental
• mānasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• japam: japa
• japam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viduḥ: they know/declare
• viduḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita framework (Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Ishvara Gita
• Japa
• Pashupata Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By defining japa as inward, motionless contemplation grounded in mantra-syllables and their meaning, the verse points to a consciousness-centered practice where realization is internal—suggesting the Self is approached not by outward speech but by steady, silent awareness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights mānasa-japa: silent mantra repetition combined with contemplative attention to the mantra’s words and meanings, practiced without physical articulation—aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-oriented discipline of inward absorption (antar-dhyāna).

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

By placing mantra-based inner yoga (a hallmark of Shaiva-Pashupata sadhana) within Lord Kurma’s teaching voice, the text models the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same inner japa leads to Ishvara, understood across Shiva–Vishnu unity.