Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

परात्परतरं तत्त्वं शाश्वतं शिवमच्युतम् / अनन्तप्रकृतौ लीनं देव्यास्तत् परमं पदम्

Transliteration

parātparataraṃ tattvaṃ śāśvataṃ śivamacyutam / anantaprakṛtau līnaṃ devyāstat paramaṃ padam

Translation

ಪರಾತ್ಪರಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ಪರಮವಾದ ತತ್ತ್ವ ಶಾಶ್ವತ—ಶಿವ, ಅಚ್ಯುತ. ಅನಂತ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಲೀನವಾದ ಅದೇ ದೇವಿಯ ಪರಮ ಪದ.

Word by Word

• परात्: beyond/from the higher
• परात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थे/तुलनार्थे (ablatival adverb: 'from/beyond')

• परतरम्: higher, more supreme
• परतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• तत्त्वम्: principle, reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• शिवम्: auspicious
• शिवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• अच्युतम्: imperishable, unfailing
• अच्युतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• अनन्त-प्रकृतौ: in the endless Prakṛti
• अनन्त-प्रकृतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/locative); एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (anantā ca sā prakṛtiḥ)

• लीनम्: merged, dissolved
• लीनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ली (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/genitive); एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• पदम्: state, abode, position
• पदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching in the Īśvara-gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Acyuta
• Devi
• Prakriti

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a Reality beyond all gradations (“higher than the highest”), identified with Śiva/Acyuta—an eternal, unfailing supreme principle (tattva) that transcends ordinary categories while being the ultimate ground of liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Īśvara-focused contemplation (īśvara-dhyāna): the yogin meditates on the supreme tattva as eternal and non-falling (acyuta), and discerns the subtle relation of consciousness and prakṛti—an Ishvara Gita theme aligned with Pāśupata-oriented renunciation and inner absorption.

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

By using both names—Śiva and Acyuta—for the same “supreme tattva,” it conveys a synthetic, non-sectarian teaching: the highest Lord is one, spoken of through Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava epithets within the Kurma Purana’s Īśvara-gītā framework.