Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 6

Rudra’s Cosmic Dance and the Recognition of Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity (Īśvara-gītā Continuation)

Devanagari script

यं विनिद्रा जितश्वासाः शान्ता भक्तिसमन्विताः / ज्योतिर्मयं प्रपश्यन्ति स योगी दृश्यते किल

Transliteration

yaṃ vinidrā jitaśvāsāḥ śāntā bhaktisamanvitāḥ / jyotirmayaṃ prapaśyanti sa yogī dṛśyate kila

Translation

眠りを離れ、息を制し、寂静にしてバクティに満ちたヨーギーたちが、純粋なる光明の姿として観ずるその御方—まことにその者こそ真のヨーギーと認められる。

Word by Word

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (masc), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg)

• विनिद्राः: sleepless, wakeful
• विनिद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (masc), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), बहुवचन (pl)

• जित-श्वासाः: having conquered the breath
• जित-श्वासाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √जि (धातु) + क्त) + श्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्वासान् जिताः = those who have conquered the breath)

• शान्ताः: peaceful
• शान्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √शम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन

• भक्ति-समन्विताः: endowed with devotion
• भक्ति-समन्विताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √अन्वि/अनु+इ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; समासः तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (भक्त्या समन्विताः = endowed with devotion)

• ज्योतिः-मयम्: made of light, luminous
• ज्योतिः-मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (ज्योतिषा मयः = consisting of light)

• प्रपश्यन्ति: they behold
• प्रपश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl); उपसर्गः प्र-

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन

• योगी: a yogin
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• किल: indeed, it is said
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः—खलु/इति-श्रुतिः (indeed, it is said)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (as Ishvara) teaching the sages (Ishvara Gita discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)
• Yogin
• Bhakti
• Pranayama (jita-shvasa)
• Jyoti (inner light)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the realized object of contemplation as “jyotirmaya”—pure luminosity—implying the Supreme/Atman is known not as a material form but as self-revealing consciousness-light apprehended in inner vision.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights wakeful vigilance (vinidrā), mastery of breath through disciplined prāṇāyāma (jitaśvāsa), mental tranquility (śānta), and devotion (bhakti) as the integrated means by which the yogin attains the vision of the Lord as inner Light.

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

By defining the contemplative goal as the one “Light-form” realized through yoga and bhakti, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the supreme Ishvara—addressed in a Vaishnava voice as Kurma—remains the same ultimate reality revered in Shaiva (Pāśupata) terms.