Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

इमानिमान् वरानिष्टान् मत्तो गृह्णीष्व केशव / सर्वज्ञत्वं तथैश्वर्यं ज्ञानं तत् पारमेश्वरम् / ईश्वरे निश्चलां भक्तिमात्मन्यपि परं बलम्

Transliteration

imānimān varāniṣṭān matto gṛhṇīṣva keśava / sarvajñatvaṃ tathaiśvaryaṃ jñānaṃ tat pārameśvaram / īśvare niścalāṃ bhaktimātmanyapi paraṃ balam

Translation

ഹേ കേശവാ, എന്നിൽ നിന്ന് ഈ അത്യന്തം ഇഷ്ടമായ വരങ്ങൾ സ്വീകരിക്ക—സർവ്വജ്ഞതയും ഐശ്വര്യാധിപത്യവും; പരമേശ്വരനിഷ്ഠ പരമജ്ഞാനവും; ഈശ്വരനിൽ അചഞ്ചല ഭക്തിയും; കൂടാതെ സ്വന്തം ആത്മസ്വരൂപത്തിലുമുള്ള പരമബലവും.

Word by Word

• इमान्: these
• इमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया (accusative plural); विशेषण (qualifies वरानिष्टान्)

• इमान्: these (indeed)
• इमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• वरानिष्टान्: boons and adversities
• वरानिष्टान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + अनिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: वराः च अनिष्टाः च (boons and undesired things)

• मत्तः: from me
• मत्तः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, पञ्चमी (ablative singular)

• गृह्णीष्व: accept, take
• गृह्णीष्व: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (गृह्णीष्व)

• केशव: O Keśava
• केशव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन (vocative)

• सर्वज्ञत्वम्: omniscience
• सर्वज्ञत्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सर्वं जानाति इति सर्वज्ञः, तस्य भावः (omniscience)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordship, sovereignty
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (accusative singular)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषण (qualifies पारमेश्वरम्)

• पारमेश्वरम्: supremely divine
• पारमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: परमस्य ईश्वरस्य सम्बन्धि (supreme/divine)

• ईश्वरे: in/for the Lord
• ईश्वरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (locative singular)

• निश्चलाम्: steadfast
• निश्चलाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषण (qualifies भक्तिम्)

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (accusative singular)

• आत्मनि: in oneself
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (locative singular)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारण-निपात (also/even)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषण (qualifies बलम्)

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया

Speaker

A divine speaker bestowing boons (contextually a supreme deity addressing Keśava, reflecting Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Īśvara
• Parameśvara
• Ātman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It links “param bala” (highest strength) to ātman, implying that true power is inward—rooted in Self-realization supported by pārameśvara-jñāna (God-centered liberating knowledge).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes a Yoga of integration: steadfast devotion to Īśvara (niścalā bhakti) together with liberating knowledge (jñāna). In Kurma Purana’s Yoga-śāstra tone, these function as complementary disciplines leading to inner strength and divine attainments.

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

By addressing Keśava while granting “pārameśvara” knowledge and devotion to Īśvara, it presents a non-sectarian unity: devotion to the Highest Lord is compatible with Vishnu-identification, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.