Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97
Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction
महाविमानमध्यस्था महानिद्रात्महेतुका / सर्वसाधारणी सूक्ष्मा ह्यविद्या पारमार्थिका
mahāvimānamadhyasthā mahānidrātmahetukā / sarvasādhāraṇī sūkṣmā hyavidyā pāramārthikā
अविद्या ही महाविमान—म्हणजे प्रकट विश्वव्यवस्था—याच्या मध्यभागी स्थित असून आत्मनिष्ठ कारणरूपाने महानीद्रेचे हेतु ठरते। ती सर्वांना समान, अत्यंत सूक्ष्म असून परमार्थविचारात अतिक्रमण करावयाची मूलप्रकृती म्हणून ओळखली जाते।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita framework
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It implies that bondage is not due to the Atman itself but to avidyā—an extremely subtle, universal misapprehension that overlays the Self-sense and produces the ‘great sleep’ of spiritual unawareness; liberation comes by discerning and transcending this avidyā.
The verse points to viveka (discriminative insight) as the yogic remedy: by subtle inward inquiry and steady contemplation, one detects avidyā’s presence in the mind and dissolves it—aligning with Ishvara Gita-style discipline that culminates in knowledge (jñāna) supported by yogic steadiness.
In the Ishvara Gita’s synthesis, the teaching voice of Kurma (Vishnu) conveys a Shaiva-Yogic analysis of bondage (avidyā and mahānidrā) and its cessation, reflecting a shared non-dual soteriology rather than sectarian opposition.