Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 12

Īśvara-gītā: The Supreme Lord as Brahman, the Source of Creation, and the Inner Self

Devanagari script

विदित्वा सप्त सूक्ष्माणि षडङ्गं च महेश्वरम् / प्रधानविनियोगज्ञः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति

Transliteration

viditvā sapta sūkṣmāṇi ṣaḍaṅgaṃ ca maheśvaram / pradhānaviniyogajñaḥ paraṃ brahmādhigacchati

Translation

七つの微細なる原理を悟り、また六分の体系を具える主としてマハーデーヴァを識り、プラダーナ（根本自然）の正しい用い方を知る者は、至上のブラフマンに到達する。

Word by Word

• विदित्वा: having known
• विदित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु) + ktvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकाले ‘having known’

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; (सामान्यतः) नपुंसकलिङ्ग द्वितीया बहुवचन-विशेषणार्थे

• सूक्ष्माणि: subtle principles
• सूक्ष्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• षडङ्गम्: the six-limbed (sixfold)
• षडङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (षट् अङ्गानि यस्य/षड्-अङ्गम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheshvara (Great Lord)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् ईश्वरः)

• प्रधानविनियोगज्ञः: knower of the application of Pradhāna
• प्रधानविनियोगज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhāna + viniyoga + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रधानस्य विनियोगस्य ज्ञः)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अधिगच्छति: attains, reaches
• अधिगच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√gam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अधि

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara (Shiva)
• Brahman
• Pradhana (Prakriti)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Brahman as the highest realization attained through correct knowledge of subtle principles and disciplined insight into Pradhāna, culminating in direct attainment of the Supreme Reality beyond nature.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes jñāna grounded in tattva-viveka (discrimination of subtle principles) and a regulated, yogic ‘application’ (viniyoga) of Pradhāna—i.e., mastering prakṛtic processes through a sixfold discipline associated with Mahādeva, aligned with Pāśupata-oriented Yoga.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita teaching delivered by Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu), Śiva (Mahā-īśvara) is affirmed as a central object of realization and yogic framework, reflecting the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis where devotion and knowledge converge toward the same Supreme Brahman.