Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

तन्मध्ये निहितं ब्रह्म केवलं ज्ञानलक्षणम् / अनन्तं सत्यमीशानं विचिन्त्यासीत संयतः

Transliteration

tanmadhye nihitaṃ brahma kevalaṃ jñānalakṣaṇam / anantaṃ satyamīśānaṃ vicintyāsīta saṃyataḥ

Translation

അതിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യേ ബ്രഹ്മം നിഹിതമാണ്—ശുദ്ധ ജ്ഞാനലക്ഷണം മാത്രം. അനന്തനും സത്യസ്വരൂപനും ആയ ഈശാനനെ ധ്യാനിച്ച് സംയമി সাধകൻ ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളട്ടെ।

Word by Word

• tat: in that
• tat: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• madhye: in the middle
• madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• nihitam: placed; deposited; situated
• nihitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√dhā (धा) (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (PPP, Neuter, Nom, Sg); ब्रह्मणः विशेषण (qualifies brahma)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Singular)

• kevalam: alone; pure
• kevalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom, Sg); ब्रह्मणः विशेषण

• jñāna-lakṣaṇam: having knowledge as its mark; characterized by knowledge
• jñāna-lakṣaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna-lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान + लक्षण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom, Sg); ब्रह्मणः विशेषण

• anantam: endless; infinite
• anantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg); ईशानम् विशेषण

• satyam: true; real
• satyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg); ईशानम् विशेषण

• īśānam: the Lord; the Ruler
• īśānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• vicintya: having contemplated
• vicintya: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√cint (चिन्त्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• āsīta: should sit; should remain
• āsīta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (आस्) (धातु)
• Form: लोट् लकार (आशीर्लिङ्/विधिलिङ्-सम्भाव्य), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (optative/benedictive sense: 'should sit/should remain')

• saṃyataḥ: self-controlled
• saṃyataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (PPP) from saṃ-√yam (यम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Sg); कर्तृविशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara-Gita style discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Ishana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies Brahman as “kevala” (pure, unmixed) and “jñāna-lakṣaṇa” (of the nature of consciousness), indicating the Supreme as limitless awareness rather than a material object.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes inward contemplation (vicintya) on the indwelling Absolute and abiding in restraint (saṃyataḥ), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented discipline: sense-control, steady sitting/abidance, and sustained God-remembrance.

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

By using the epithet “Īśāna” for the Supreme while spoken in a Kūrma (Viṣṇu) setting, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the one Brahman/Ishvara is praised through shared divine names and attributes.