Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 17

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

यद्वा गुहायां प्रकृतौ जगत्संमोहनालये / विचिन्त्य परमं व्योम सर्वभूतैककारणम्

Transliteration

yadvā guhāyāṃ prakṛtau jagatsaṃmohanālaye / vicintya paramaṃ vyoma sarvabhūtaikakāraṇam

Translation

あるいは、世界を惑わす迷妄の住処たるプラクリティ（Prakṛti）の洞窟の内において、万有を遍く満たす至上の「ヴ्योーマ」（Vyoma）を、一切衆生の唯一の原因として観想すべきである。

Word by Word

• यद्: or else
• यद्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (yad-vā = or else/alternatively; correlativized particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (particle: or)

• गुहायाम्: in the cave (heart-cave)
• गुहायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रकृतौ: in Prakṛti/nature
• प्रकृतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• जगत्संमोहनालये: in the abode of the world’s delusion
• जगत्संमोहनालये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + संमोहन + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (जगत्-संमोहन-आलय = abode of the delusion of the world)

• विचिन्त्य: having contemplated
• विचिन्त्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; वि-चिन्त् धातोः (having contemplated)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (व्योम इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• व्योम: the sky/ether (supreme space)
• व्योम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सर्वभूतैककारणम्: the sole cause of all beings
• सर्वभूतैककारणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + भूत + एक + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्व-भूत-एक-कारण = sole cause of all beings)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis teaching on the Supreme Cause).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Prakriti
• Vyoma (Supreme Space/Brahman)
• Sarvabhuta (all beings)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Supreme as ‘Vyoma’—all-pervading, subtle, and beyond limitation—described as the single cause of all beings, to be realized by inward contemplation even while Prakṛti generates delusion.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes dhyāna (deep contemplation) directed inward to the ‘guhā’ (inner recess/heart-cave), discerning the Supreme principle beyond the confusing play of Prakṛti—an approach compatible with Pāśupata-oriented restraint and Vedāntic discrimination.

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

By presenting one Supreme cause contemplated as the highest Reality beyond Prakṛti, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva and Viṣṇu are understood as expressions of the same supreme principle approached through Yoga and knowledge.