Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

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

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

एतद् विज्ञाय भावेन यथावदखिलं द्विज / ततस्त्वं कर्मयोगेन शाश्वतं सम्यगर्चय

Transliteration

etad vijñāya bhāvena yathāvadakhilaṃ dvija / tatastvaṃ karmayogena śāśvataṃ samyagarcaya

Translation

おお二度生まれの者よ、これら一切を正しく、しかも信心の心で理解したなら、カルマ・ヨーガ—奉献された行為の修行—によって、常住の御方を正しく礼拝せよ。

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vijñāya: having known/understood
• vijñāya: Purvakala Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-jñā (वि-ज्ञा)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive/Gerund)

• bhāvena: with feeling/devotion
• bhāvena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (भाव)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• yathāvat: correctly/as it is
• yathāvat: Kriya Visheshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (यथावत्)
• Form: Adverb

• akhilam: entire/whole
• akhilam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (अखिल)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dvija: O Twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvija: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (द्विज)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन), Singular

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (ततस्)
• Form: Adverb

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (युष्मद्)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• karmayogena: through Karma Yoga
• karmayogena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karmayoga (कर्मयोग)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• śāśvatam: the Eternal One
• śāśvatam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāśvata (शाश्वत)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samyak: properly/well
• samyak: Kriya Visheshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (सम्यक्)
• Form: Adverb

• arcaya: worship
• arcaya: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (अर्च)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing a dvija (the inquirer) within the Ishvara Gita teaching-frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (Vishnu)
• Ishvara (the Eternal Lord)
• Karma-yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Eternal Lord (śāśvata) as the proper object of worship, implying that realization must mature into steady God-centered practice—knowledge and inner disposition (bhāva) culminating in consecrated action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Karma-yoga is emphasized: performing prescribed duties with correct understanding and devotional intent, treating action itself as worship (arcana) of Ishvara—an applied, discipline-based path aligned with Kurma Purana’s yogic-ritual synthesis.

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

By centering worship on the single Eternal Ishvara approached through yoga and right practice, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology where sectarian forms converge in one supreme reality worshipped through disciplined action.