Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

ज्ञानं वैराग्यमैश्वर्यं तपः सत्यं क्षमा धृतिः / स्त्रष्टृत्वमात्मसंबोधो ह्यधिष्ठातृत्वमेव च

Transliteration

jñānaṃ vairāgyamaiśvaryaṃ tapaḥ satyaṃ kṣamā dhṛtiḥ / straṣṭṛtvamātmasaṃbodho hyadhiṣṭhātṛtvameva ca

Translation

ಜ್ಞಾನ, ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ, ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯ, ತಪಸ್ಸು, ಸತ್ಯ, ಕ್ಷಮೆ, ಧೃತಿ, ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಶಕ್ತಿ, ಆತ್ಮಬೋಧ ಮತ್ತು ಅಧಿಷ್ಠಾತೃತ್ವ—ಇವೇ ಪ್ರಭುವಿನ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳು.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordship/power
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (तपस्-शब्दः)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्षमा: forbearance
• क्षमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धृतिः: steadfastness
• धृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्रष्टृत्वम्: creatorship
• स्रष्टृत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रष्टृ + त्व (प्रातिपदिक; सृज्-धातुजन्य कर्तृ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-त्वान्त

• आत्मसंबोधः: self-realization/awakening of the Self
• आत्मसंबोधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + संबोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः संबोधः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• अधिष्ठातृत्वम्: overlordship/presiding authority
• अधिष्ठातृत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिष्ठातृ + त्व (प्रातिपदिक; अधि-स्था धातुजन्य कर्तृ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-त्वान्त

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita teaching-frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Atman
• Ishvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It characterizes the Supreme as self-luminous and fully awakened (ātma-sambodha), possessing perfect knowledge and mastery, while also being the cosmic creator and governor—linking inner Self-realization with universal lordship.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to a Yoga of purification and realization: jñāna (discernment), vairāgya (detachment), and tapaḥ (austerity) supported by satya, kṣamā, and dhṛti—core virtues that stabilize Pashupata-oriented sādhanā toward Ishvara-realization.

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

By defining the one Ishvara through universal functions (creation and governance) and inner self-awakening, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme lordly principle can be understood through both Shaiva and Vaishnava theological language.