Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 137
Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara
अब्रुवन् हृष्टमनसः कृष्णद्वैपायनं प्रभुम् / साक्षादेव हृषीकेशं सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्
abruvan hṛṣṭamanasaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ prabhum / sākṣādeva hṛṣīkeśaṃ sarvalokamaheśvaram
हर्षित मनाने मुनींनी प्रभु कृष्णद्वैपायनांना म्हटले—आपण साक्षात् हृषीकेश, सर्व लोकांचे महेश्वर आहात।
Sages/assembled seers (addressing Vyasa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By identifying Vyāsa with Hṛṣīkeśa and “the Great Lord of all worlds,” the verse points to the Supreme as one reality that can be recognized through a realized teacher—manifest yet transcendent, sovereign over all domains of existence.
The verse highlights the yogic prerequisite of right recognition (pratyabhijñā) and guru-bhakti: seeing the divine presence in the enlightened guide. This supports the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara-Gita emphasis that disciplined practice (yama-niyama, dhyāna) culminates in direct apprehension of Īśvara.
Using the epithet “sarvaloka-maheśvara” (a title often associated with Maheśvara/Śiva) for Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu) reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology—one Supreme Īśvara spoken of through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava names.