Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

एको वेदो बहुशाखो ह्यनन्तस् त्वामेवैकं बोधयत्येकरूपम् / वेद्यं त्वां शरणं ये प्रपन्ना- स्तेषां शान्तिः शाश्वती नेतरेषाम्

Transliteration

eko vedo bahuśākho hyanantas tvāmevaikaṃ bodhayatyekarūpam / vedyaṃ tvāṃ śaraṇaṃ ye prapannā- steṣāṃ śāntiḥ śāśvatī netareṣām

Translation

ವೇದ ಒಂದೇ, ಅದರ ಅನಂತ ಶಾಖೆಗಳಿದ್ದರೂ; ಅದು ಏಕರೂಪ ಪರತತ್ತ್ವವಾಗಿ ನಿನ್ನನ್ನೇ ಬೋಧಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಜ್ಞೇಯ ಪರಮವೆಂದು ತಿಳಿದು ನಿನ್ನ ಶರಣಾಗುವವರಿಗೆ ಶಾಶ್ವತ ಶಾಂತಿ; ಇತರರಿಗೆ ಅಲ್ಲ।

Word by Word

• ekaḥ: one, single
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• vedaḥ: Veda
• vedaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• bahu-śākhaḥ: having many branches
• bahu-śākhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + śākhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (बह्व्यः शाखाः यस्य)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• anantaḥ: endless
• anantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• eva: only, indeed
• eva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (restrictive particle)

• ekam: as one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (tvām इति विशेष्यस्य)

• bodhayati: makes known, teaches
• bodhayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु) (णिच् causative: bodhaya-)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

• eka-rūpam: one-formed, of one nature
• eka-rūpam: Karma (कर्म; bodhayati इत्यस्य बोध्य-वस्तु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (एकं रूपं यस्य/एकरूपम्)

• vedyam: to be known, knowable
• vedyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vid (धातु) → vedya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म; प्रपन्नाः इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Karma (कर्म; ‘as refuge’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘refuge’ (tvām इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-विशेषणवत्)

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता; प्रपन्नाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• prapannāḥ: have surrendered
• prapannāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; ye)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pad (धातु) → prapanna (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having taken refuge/surrendered’

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• śāntiḥ: peace
• śāntiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śāśvatī: eternal
• śāśvatī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (śāntiḥ इत्यस्य)

• na: not
• na: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• itareṣām: of others
• itareṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: itara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of others’

Speaker

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as one, of a single essential nature, the ultimate object of knowledge taught by all Vedic branches—implying unity behind diverse doctrines and practices.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and one-pointed recognition of the single Lord as the knowable reality—an Ishvara-centered contemplation aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-oriented devotion and discipline.

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

By asserting one Lord known through the Veda’s many branches, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic, non-sectarian thrust: the supreme Ishvara is one, while names and theological emphases (Shaiva/Vaishnava) are many.