Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

उवाच वचसां योनिं जानीमः परमं पदम् / विष्णुमव्यक्तसंस्थानं शिष्यभावेन संस्थितम्

Transliteration

uvāca vacasāṃ yoniṃ jānīmaḥ paramaṃ padam / viṣṇumavyaktasaṃsthānaṃ śiṣyabhāvena saṃsthitam

Translation

Baginda bersabda: “Kami mengenal Viṣṇu sebagai rahim segala sabda, sebagai kedudukan tertinggi. Baginda bersemayam dalam keadaan tidak termanifestasi, dan kami berdiri di hadapan-Nya dengan sikap seorang murid.”

Word by Word

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• वचसाम्: of words/speech
• वचसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• योनिम्: source, womb, origin
• योनिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• जानीमः: we know
• जानीमः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन (plural), परस्मैपद

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (qualifier) of पदम्

• पदम्: state/abode/position
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• अव्यक्तसंस्थानम्: of unmanifest form/constitution
• अव्यक्तसंस्थानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्धारणार्थ: ‘अव्यक्तस्य संस्थानम्’ → ‘having an unmanifest form/constitution’; विशेषण of विष्णुम्

• शिष्यभावेन: with the attitude/state of a disciple
• शिष्यभावेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); ‘शिष्यस्य भावः’ (state of a disciple)

• संस्थितम्: situated/established
• संस्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of विष्णुम्

Speaker

A sage/devotee speaker (addressing or describing Vishnu with reverence, in a disciple-like stance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Supreme as “unmanifest” (avyakta) and as the highest “abode” (paramaṃ padam), indicating a transcendent reality beyond ordinary speech and concepts, yet known through reverent recognition.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śiṣyabhāva—approaching the Lord with disciplined discipleship—an essential inner posture for Purāṇic yoga: humility, receptivity to instruction, and contemplative orientation toward the unmanifest (avyakta) ground of being.

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

By presenting Viṣṇu as the supreme, unmanifest foundation and object of disciplined reverence, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where sectarian boundaries soften and the highest Ishvara is approached through shared yogic and devotional principles.