Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

आत्मन्यात्मानमन्वीक्ष्य स्वात्मन्येवाखिलं जगत् / संप्राप्य भावनामन्त्यां ब्राह्मीमक्षरपूर्विकाम्

Transliteration

ātmanyātmānamanvīkṣya svātmanyevākhilaṃ jagat / saṃprāpya bhāvanāmantyāṃ brāhmīmakṣarapūrvikām

Translation

ആത്മനിൽ ആത്മാവിനെ നിരീക്ഷിച്ച്, സർവ്വജഗത്തും സ്വന്തം സ്വാത്മനിലേ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നതായി കണ്ടു, അക്ഷരത്തിൽ അധിഷ്ഠിതമായ ബ്രാഹ്മീ അന്തിമ ധ്യാനാവസ്ഥയെ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• आत्मनि: in the Self
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्वीक्ष्य: having contemplated
• अन्वीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having contemplated/observed'

• स्वात्मनि: in one’s own Self
• स्वात्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य आत्मनि (in one's own self)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; जगत् इति विशेषण

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• संप्राप्य: having attained
• संप्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having attained'

• भावनाम्: meditative contemplation
• भावनाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्त्याम्: final/ultimate
• अन्त्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भावनाम् इति विशेषण

• ब्राह्मीम्: pertaining to Brahman
• ब्राह्मीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भावनाम् इति विशेषण

• अक्षरपूर्विकाम्: beginning with the imperishable syllable (Oṃ)
• अक्षरपूर्विकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर + पूर्विका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अक्षरं पूर्वं यस्याः सा (having the syllable as its beginning; i.e., beginning with Oṃ)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching within the Īśvara-gītā discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Brahman
• Akshara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches Self-inquiry that reveals the universe as resting in the Self, culminating in Brahmī (Brahman-realization) rooted in the Imperishable (Akṣara), indicating an unchanging, all-pervading ground of being.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights ātmānuvīkṣā (deep contemplation of the Self) and non-dual bhāvanā (final contemplative absorption) where the practitioner internalizes the cosmos as Self—an advanced meditative culmination aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Yoga-shāstra tone.

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

By emphasizing realization of Akṣara-Brahman beyond sectarian forms, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the highest truth is one, approached through Īśvara-centered Yoga that harmonizes Shaiva and Vaishnava understandings.