Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 57

Naimittika-pralaya and the Theology of Kāla: Seven Suns, Saṃvartaka Fire, Flood, and Varāha Kalpa

Devanagari script

अनन्तस्तारको योगी गतिर्गतिमतां वरः / हंसः प्राणो ऽथ कपिलो विश्वमूर्तिः सनातनः

Transliteration

anantastārako yogī gatirgatimatāṃ varaḥ / haṃsaḥ prāṇo 'tha kapilo viśvamūrtiḥ sanātanaḥ

Translation

汝はアナンタ（Ananta）—無尽なる者、ターラカ（Tāraka）—救済し渡す者、ヨーギン、そして求道者たちの至上の帰趣にして最勝の依処。汝はハンサ（Haṃsa）—万有の内に動く内なるアートマン、汝はプラーナ（Prāṇa）—生命の息、汝はカピラ（Kapila）。汝は全宇宙を身とする永遠にして太古の御者。

Word by Word

• अनन्तः: the Infinite (Ananta)
• अनन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम (epithet)

• तारकः: the deliverer/savior
• तारकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• योगी: the yogin
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• गतिः: the refuge/goal
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• गतिमताम्: of the moving/striving ones
• गतिमताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (generic), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of those who have movement/seekers)

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• हंसः: the Hamsa (swan; supreme self)
• हंसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• प्राणः: the life-breath
• प्राणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: then/and)

• कपिलः: Kapila
• कपिलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• विश्वमूर्तिः: whose form is the universe
• विश्वमूर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य मूर्तिः = whose form is the universe)

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the deity)

Speaker

A sage/narrator offering a stuti (hymn) to the Supreme Lord (Hari as Kurma/Narayana), in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis typical of the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Tāraka
• Haṃsa
• Prāṇa
• Kapila
• Viśvamūrti
• Sanātana (the Eternal Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme as both transcendent (Ananta, Sanātana) and immanent (Prāṇa, Viśvamūrti, Haṃsa), indicating the one Reality as the inner Self and the cosmic form sustaining all beings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse frames the Lord as the Yogin and as Haṃsa (linked with the so’ham contemplation), implying inward meditation on prāṇa and the indwelling Self as the direct means to realize the highest gati (liberating goal).

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

By using universal epithets (Yogin, Tāraka, Viśvamūrti) common to Shaiva and Vaishnava stutis, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: one Supreme Ishvara praised through multiple theological lenses.