Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 9

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

अनन्तो भोगिनां देवः सेनानीनां च पावकिः / आश्रमाणां च गार्हस्थमीश्वराणां महेश्वरः

Transliteration

ananto bhogināṃ devaḥ senānīnāṃ ca pāvakiḥ / āśramāṇāṃ ca gārhasthamīśvarāṇāṃ maheśvaraḥ

Translation

蛇族（bhogin）の中では我はアナンタ、将帥の中では我は火である。四住期（āśrama）の中では我は家住期（gārhasthya）、支配者の中では我はマヘーシュヴァラである。

Word by Word

• anantaḥ: Ananta
• anantaḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhoginām: of serpents (hooded ones)
• bhoginām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• devaḥ: god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; implicit 'aham')
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• senānīnām: of commanders
• senānīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: senānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• pāvakiḥ: Pāvaki (Agni)
• pāvakiḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaki (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• āśramāṇām: of āśramas (stages of life)
• āśramāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• gārhastham: householder stage
• gārhastham: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gārhastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) (also Accusative 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); predicate nominative

• īśvarāṇām: of lords
• īśvarāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheśvara (Great Lord)
• maheśvaraḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष (mahān īśvaraḥ)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ananta (Shesha)
• Agni (Pavaka)
• Maheśvara (Shiva)
• Gṛhastha-āśrama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the indwelling Lord manifesting as the foremost presence within each class—cosmic (Ananta), functional power (Agni), social order (gṛhastha), and sovereignty (Maheśvara)—indicating one Ishvara appearing through many exalted forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-upāsanā through vibhuti-dhyāna: contemplating the Lord as the highest principle within key domains (cosmic stability, disciplined power, dharmic life-stage, righteous rulership), aligning devotion with Varnāśrama-dharma as a foundation for Pāśupata-oriented spiritual discipline.

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

By declaring “among rulers I am Maheśvara,” the speaker (Kurma/Vishnu) identifies the supreme lordship with Śiva, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where one Ishvara is honored through both Vishnu and Shiva names and functions.