Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 112

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

सो ऽपि योगिनमन्वीक्ष्य प्रणमन्तमुपस्थितम् / प्रत्युद्गम्य स्वयं देवो विश्वात्मा परिषस्वजे

Transliteration

so 'pi yoginamanvīkṣya praṇamantamupasthitam / pratyudgamya svayaṃ devo viśvātmā pariṣasvaje

Translation

そのヨーギーが御前に立ち、敬虔に礼拝しているのをご覧になると、神ご自身—宇宙のアートマン—がみずから歩み寄り、迎えて抱擁された。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular; pronoun)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• योगिनम्: the yogin
• योगिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• अन्वीक्ष्य: having observed
• अन्वीक्ष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईक्ष् (धातु) + अनु (उपसर्ग) → अन्वीक्ष्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having seen/observed)

• प्रणमन्तम्: bowing
• प्रणमन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग) → प्रणमत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), विशेषण (Masculine, Accusative singular; present participle)

• उपस्थितम्: present/standing near
• उपस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग) → उपस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण (Masculine, Accusative singular; past participle)

• प्रत्युद्गम्य: having gone out to meet
• प्रत्युद्गम्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) + प्रति + उत् (उपसर्गौ) → प्रत्युद्गम्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having gone forth to meet)

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• विश्वात्मा: the universal Self
• विश्वात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—विश्वस्य आत्मा/विश्वात्मा (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• परिषस्वजे: embraced
• परिषस्वजे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वज् (धातु) + परि (उपसर्ग) → परिषस्वज्
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, perfect, parasmaipada)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the Lord’s action in the story-frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Deva (Supreme Lord)
• Yogin
• Viśvātmā (Universal Self)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Lord “Viśvātmā,” it identifies Him as the indwelling Self of all beings, implying that the divine presence is universal and not limited to a single form.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the yogin’s humility and surrender (praṇāma) as a yogic discipline; it presents devotion and reverence as supportive to higher realization, aligning Yoga with divine grace rather than mere technique.

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

Though Vishnu/Kūrma is implied as the welcoming Lord, the title “Viśvātmā” frames the deity as the universal divine principle—supporting the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the Supreme is one, expressed through multiple theistic forms.