Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

येन विब्रान्तचित्तानां योगिनां कर्मिणामपि / दृश्यो हि भगवान् सूक्ष्मः सर्वेषामथ देहिनाम्

Transliteration

yena vibrāntacittānāṃ yogināṃ karmiṇāmapi / dṛśyo hi bhagavān sūkṣmaḥ sarveṣāmatha dehinām

Translation

ആ മാർഗ്ഗംകൊണ്ട്, ചിത്തം വിചലിച്ച യോഗികളും കർമികളും പോലും, സൂക്ഷ്മനായ ഭഗവാൻ എല്ലാ ദേഹധാരികൾക്കും പ്രത്യക്ഷദർശനീയനാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• विब्रान्त-चित्तानाम्: of those whose minds are confused
• विब्रान्त-चित्तानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विब्रान्त + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘विब्रान्तं चित्तं येषाम्’ (as a descriptive compound used for a class)

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• कर्मिणाम्: of ritualists/doers
• कर्मिणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• दृश्यः: visible, to be seen
• दृश्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश्य (प्रातिपदिक; √दृश्-यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive potential)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपातः (indeed/for)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सूक्ष्मः: subtle
• सूक्ष्मः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘भगवान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• अथ: and
• अथ: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and/then)

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the inquiring sages/Indradyumna contextually within the Purva-bhaga discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan (Ishvara)
• Yogin
• Karmī (ritualist)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Bhagavan/Īśvara as sūkṣma (subtle) yet directly knowable: realization is not merely sensory but arises through an inner means (discernment and yogic insight) that makes the Lord ‘seen’ even by embodied beings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to a means (yena) by which perception of the subtle Lord becomes possible—implying disciplined yoga (mind-clarification, dhyāna, and viveka) that transforms a vibrānta (bewildered) mind into a fit instrument for Īśvara-darśana, aligning with Kurma Purana’s yoga-shāstra tone.

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

By emphasizing one subtle Bhagavan accessible through yogic realization rather than sectarian identity, it supports the Purana’s non-dual devotional-philosophical stance where Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths converge in direct realization of the one Īśvara.