Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31
Rudra’s Cosmic Dance and the Recognition of Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity (Īśvara-gītā Continuation)
एको वेदो बहुशाखो ह्यनन्तस् त्वामेवैकं बोधयत्येकरूपम् / वेद्यं त्वां शरणं ये प्रपन्ना- स्तेषां शान्तिः शाश्वती नेतरेषाम्
eko vedo bahuśākho hyanantas tvāmevaikaṃ bodhayatyekarūpam / vedyaṃ tvāṃ śaraṇaṃ ye prapannā- steṣāṃ śāntiḥ śāśvatī netareṣām
വേദം ഒന്നുതന്നെ, അതിന് അനന്ത ശാഖകളുണ്ടെങ്കിലും; അത് ഏകസ്വരൂപ പരതത്ത്വമായി നിന്നെയേ ബോധിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. നിന്നെ ജ്ഞേയപരമമെന്ന് അറിഞ്ഞ് നിന്റെ ശരണം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നവർക്ക് ശാശ്വത ശാന്തി; മറ്റുള്ളവർക്ക് അല്ല.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita teaching context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents the Supreme as one, of a single essential nature, the ultimate object of knowledge taught by all Vedic branches—implying unity behind diverse doctrines and practices.
The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and one-pointed recognition of the single Lord as the knowable reality—an Ishvara-centered contemplation aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-oriented devotion and discipline.
By asserting one Lord known through the Veda’s many branches, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic, non-sectarian thrust: the supreme Ishvara is one, while names and theological emphases (Shaiva/Vaishnava) are many.