Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 20
Īśvara-gītā: Brahman as All-Pervading—Kāla, Prakṛti–Puruṣa, Tattva-Evolution, and Mokṣa
प्राणात् परतरं व्योम व्योमातीतो ऽग्निरीश्वरः / सो ऽहं सर्वत्रगः शान्तो ज्ञानात्मा परमेश्वरः / नास्ति मत्तः परं भूतं मां विज्ञाय विमुच्यते
prāṇāt parataraṃ vyoma vyomātīto 'gnirīśvaraḥ / so 'haṃ sarvatragaḥ śānto jñānātmā parameśvaraḥ / nāsti mattaḥ paraṃ bhūtaṃ māṃ vijñāya vimucyate
プラーナを超えて微妙なる虚空（ヴ्योーマ）があり、その虚空をも超えて主なるアグニ—イーシュヴァラがある。我こそその至上主である。遍く行き渡り、寂静にして、知と覚知を本性とする。われより上なる実在はない。真に我を知る者は解脱する。
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching the Īśvara-gītā to King Indradyumna and the sages
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It identifies the Supreme as all-pervading, शांत (tranquil), and jñāna-svarūpa (of the nature of consciousness), transcending prāṇa and even the subtlest “space” (vyoma). Realization of this Supreme Self is presented as the direct means to liberation.
The verse points to a contemplative hierarchy used in meditation—moving inward from prāṇa (life-force) to subtler principles and finally to Īśvara beyond all. This aligns with Kurma Purana’s Īśvara-gītā orientation where discriminative knowledge (vijñāna) and inward absorption culminate in mokṣa.
By presenting one Parameśvara as the ultimate reality—described with the luminous Agni principle and universal Īśvara language—the verse supports the Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the Supreme is one, though invoked through different divine names and theologies.