Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 37

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

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

ध्याननिष्ठस्य सततं नश्यते सर्वपातकम् / तस्मान्महेश्वरं ज्ञात्वा तस्य ध्यानपरो भवेत्

Transliteration

dhyānaniṣṭhasya satataṃ naśyate sarvapātakam / tasmānmaheśvaraṃ jñātvā tasya dhyānaparo bhavet

Translation

常に禅定に安住する者には、あらゆる罪が絶えず滅してゆく。ゆえに、マヘーシュヴァラを真に知ったなら、その御方への瞑想に専心すべきである。

Word by Word

• ध्यान-निष्ठस्य: of one steadfast in meditation
• ध्यान-निष्ठस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• नश्यते: perishes; is destroyed
• नश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• सर्व-पातकम्: all sin
• सर्व-पातकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययवत्): 'therefore/from that reason'

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known/recognized
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययकृदन्त)

• तस्य: of him; his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ध्यान-परः: devoted to meditation
• ध्यान-परः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• भवेत्: should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Shaiva-Yoga principles within the Kurma Purana’s Shiva-Vishnu synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara (Shiva)
• Dhyana (Meditation)
• Pātaka (Sin)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that true knowing (jñāna) of Īśvara and steady meditation purify the practitioner, removing pātaka that obscures realization—pointing to liberation through inner contemplation rather than mere external rites.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes dhyāna-niṣṭhā—continuous steadiness in meditation—presented as a practical means of purification in the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented discipline, where devotion and contemplative absorption work together.

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

With Lord Kurma teaching devotion to Maheshvara, the text models a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis: Vishnu, as Kurma, endorses meditation on Shiva as Īśvara, reflecting a non-sectarian, unity-oriented Purana theology.