Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

सर्वतः पाणिपादान्तं सर्वतो ऽक्षिशिरोमुखम् / सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठन्तं ददर्श परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

sarvataḥ pāṇipādāntaṃ sarvato 'kṣiśiromukham / sarvamāvṛtya tiṣṭhantaṃ dadarśa parameśvaram

Translation

അവൻ പരമേശ്വരനെ ദർശിച്ചു—അവന്റെ കൈകളും കാലുകളും എല്ലായിടത്തും, കണ്ണുകളും തലകളും മുഖങ്ങളും എല്ലാദിക്കിലും; സർവ്വത്തെയും ആവൃതമാക്കി വ്യാപിച്ചു നിലകൊള്ളുന്നവൻ.

Word by Word

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-avyaya (adverb of place/देश-अव्यय)

• pāṇi-pāda-antam: having hands and feet (as ends) everywhere
• pāṇi-pāda-antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषण; dvandva of pāṇi+pāda with anta as qualifier: 'having hands and feet as extremities'

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-avyaya (adverb of place)

• akṣi-śiras-mukham: having eyes, heads, and mouths everywhere
• akṣi-śiras-mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषण; dvandva (eyes+head+mouth)

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; 'all (things)' as object of gerund

• āvṛtya: having enveloped
• āvṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √vṛ (धातु) with ā- upasarga; āvṛtya (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव)
• Form: Kṛdanta; ktvā-gerund (त्वान्त/क्त्वान्त अव्यय), 'having covered/enveloped'

• tiṣṭhantam: standing, abiding
• tiṣṭhantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु); tiṣṭhant (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; vartamāna-kāla kartari śatṛ (present active participle) used adjectivally

• dadarśa: (he) saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (imperfect/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• parameśvaram: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; कर्म (object)

Speaker

Narrator within the Ishvara-Gita frame (Kurma Purana, Upari-bhaga) describing the vision of Parameshvara

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme as all-pervading and cosmic—present as the inner reality of all beings and forms—so the Atman/Ishvara is not confined to one body or location but envelops the entire universe.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-dhyana: contemplation of the omnipresent Lord (vishvarupa-bhavana), a key meditative orientation in the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-leaning Ishvara-Gita—training the mind to see one Ishvara abiding in and as all.

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

By focusing on Parameśvara as the single all-pervading reality, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach: sectarian names differ, but the supreme Ishvara indicated is one, immanent in all forms.