Shloka 34

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

सहस्रमूर्ते विश्वात्मन् जगद्यन्त्रप्रवर्तक / जयानन्त जगज्जन्मत्राणसंहारकारण

Transliteration

sahasramūrte viśvātman jagadyantrapravartaka / jayānanta jagajjanmatrāṇasaṃhārakāraṇa

Translation

ജയം, ഹേ സഹസ്രമൂർത്തേ, ഹേ വിശ്വാത്മാ, ജഗദ്യന്ത്രം പ്രവർത്തിപ്പിക്കുന്നവനേ! ജയം, ഹേ അനന്താ—ജഗത്തിന്റെ ജനനം, രക്ഷാ-പാലനം, സംഹാരം എന്നിവയുടെ കാരണമേ!

Word by Word

• सहस्र-मूर्ते: O thousand-formed one
• सहस्र-मूर्ते: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; द्विगु—सहस्रं मूर्तयः यस्य

• विश्व-आत्मन्: O universal Self
• विश्व-आत्मन्: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—विश्वः आत्मा यस्य/यः

• जगत्-यन्त्र-प्रवर्तक: O mover of the world-machine
• जगत्-यन्त्र-प्रवर्तक: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—जगतो यन्त्रं प्रवर्तयति इति

• जय: hail!
• जय: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जय (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (benedictive interjection)

• अनन्त: O infinite one
• अनन्त: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• जगत्-जन्म-त्राण-संहार-कारण: O cause of the world's birth, protection, and dissolution
• जगत्-जन्म-त्राण-संहार-कारण: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्म (प्रातिपदिक) + त्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + संहार (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थः—जन्म-त्राण-संहाराणां कारणम् (cause of creation, protection, destruction)

Speaker

Sages (praising Lord Kurma/Ishvara in the Ishvara Gita setting)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Ishvara
• Vishnu
• Universal Self (Vishvatman)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Lord as Viśvātman—the universal Self—implying that the Supreme is both immanent in all beings and the transcendent source governing cosmic order.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not prescribing techniques directly, the verse supports Ishvara-centered meditation (īśvara-bhāvanā): contemplating the Lord as the infinite cause behind creation, protection, and dissolution—an orientation consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-leaning theism and disciplined yoga.

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

By praising the one Ishvara as the cosmic cause (creation–preservation–dissolution), it aligns with the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme function can be spoken of in Shaiva or Vaishnava terms without contradiction.