Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 10

Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī

Devanagari script

अहमेव परं ज्योतिरहमेव परा गतिः / मत्प्रेरितेन भवता सृष्टं भुवनमण्डलम्

Transliteration

ahameva paraṃ jyotirahameva parā gatiḥ / matpreritena bhavatā sṛṣṭaṃ bhuvanamaṇḍalam

Translation

मीच परम ज्योती आहे, मीच परम गती (सर्वोच्च ध्येय) आहे. माझ्या प्रेरणेने तू हे संपूर्ण भुवनमंडल—लोकचक्र निर्माण केलेस.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष-सूचक; एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. Singular); विशेषण

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: Pradhana (प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• परा: supreme
• परा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular); विशेषण

• गतिः: goal/way
• गतिः: Pradhana (प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• मत्-प्रेरितेन: by (one) impelled by me
• मत्-प्रेरितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेरित (कृदन्त; √प्रेर्/प्रेरय् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मया प्रेरितः’); नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental Singular)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/भवद्)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’); पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental Singular)

• सृष्टम्: created
• सृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृष्ट (कृदन्त; √सृज् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. Singular); कर्मणि-भाव

• भुवन-मण्डलम्: the sphere/circle of the worlds
• भुवन-मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘भुवनस्य मण्डलम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. Singular)

Speaker

The Supreme Lord (identified in the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis as Ishvara/Narayana speaking with the authority of the Supreme Self)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Supreme Light (Param Jyotis)
• Bhuvana-mandala

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as the ultimate Light (parama-jyotis) and the final Refuge/Goal (parā gati), implying that all spiritual realization culminates in that one Ishvara who illumines and fulfills all beings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-centered meditation: contemplating the Supreme as inner Light and final gati. In Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-teaching style, this aligns with steady dhyāna on Ishvara as the source, guide, and goal—strengthening surrender (īśvara-praṇidhāna) and one-pointedness.

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

By speaking in terms of the single Supreme Light and supreme Goal, the verse fits the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the highest Ishvara can be understood through both Shaiva and Vaishnava lenses as one supreme reality guiding creation.