Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

एतद् गुह्यतमं ज्ञानं गूढं ब्रह्मादिसेवितम / हिताय सर्वभक्तानां ब्रूहि कामाङ्गनाशन

Transliteration

etad guhyatamaṃ jñānaṃ gūḍhaṃ brahmādisevitama / hitāya sarvabhaktānāṃ brūhi kāmāṅganāśana

Translation

ഇത് പരമഗുഹ്യമായ ജ്ഞാനം—അത്യന്തം ഗൂഢം—ബ്രഹ്മാദി ദേവന്മാരും സേവിക്കുന്നതു. ഹേ കാമനും അവന്റെ ഗണങ്ങളും നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നവനേ, സർവഭക്തരുടെ ഹിതത്തിനായി ഇത് അരുളുക.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गुह्यतमम्: most secret
• गुह्यतमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्यतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अतिशय-तमत् (superlative)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गूढम्: hidden
• गूढम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गूढ (प्रातिपदिक; √गुह्-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• ब्रह्मादि-सेवितम्: served by Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्मादि-सेवितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि + सेवित (प्रातिपदिक; √सेव्-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘ब्रह्मादिभिः सेवितम्’ (instrumental sense); क्त-कृदन्त

• हिताय: for the benefit
• हिताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (dative of purpose)

• सर्व-भक्तानाम्: of all devotees
• सर्व-भक्तानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्वेषां भक्तानाम्’

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कामाङ्ग-नाशन: O destroyer of Kāma’s body
• कामाङ्ग-नाशन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + अङ्ग + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सम्बोधन-नाम)

Speaker

A devotee/sage addressing Lord Shiva (invoked as Kāmaṅganāśana) within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva (Kāmaṅganāśana)
• Kama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents liberating knowledge as “most secret” and “deeply hidden,” implying an inward, contemplative realization revered even by the highest cosmic beings—pointing to Atman/Brahman as known through direct insight rather than mere ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself is an invitation to receive esoteric instruction; in Kurma Purana’s yogic framework, such “guhyatama jnana” is typically approached through discipline, devotion, and inner contemplation aligned with Shaiva-Pashupata and broader Yoga-shastra principles.

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

By honoring Shiva as the revealer of the highest knowledge while situating the teaching within a Purana that also elevates Vishnu/Kurma, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same supreme truth is taught through both Shaiva and Vaishnava voices.