Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

स एव परमं ब्रह्म वासुदेवः सनातनः / शेते नारायणः श्रीमान् मायया मोहयञ्जगत्

Transliteration

sa eva paramaṃ brahma vāsudevaḥ sanātanaḥ / śete nārāyaṇaḥ śrīmān māyayā mohayañjagat

Translation

Dia sahaja ialah Brahman Tertinggi—Vāsudeva, Yang Kekal. Sebagai Nārāyaṇa yang mulia, Dia bersemayam; dan dengan Māyā-Nya, Dia memperdaya dunia hingga tenggelam dalam khayal.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Avadharana/Avyaya (अवधारण/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्म’ इति विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘वासुदेवः’ इति विशेषणम्

• शेते: lies/reclines
• शेते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: splendid/possessed of Śrī
• श्रीमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• मायया: by (his) māyā
• मायया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मोहयन्: deluding
• मोहयन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुह् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘नारायणः’ इति विशेषणम्

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator/Sūta-style Purāṇic voice (praise-stuti section describing Nārāyaṇa as Brahman)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Nārāyaṇa
• Māyā
• Brahman
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Reality (paramaṃ brahma) with Vāsudeva/Nārāyaṇa, implying that the ultimate Self is one, eternal, and the ground of all existence—not merely a deity among others but the Absolute.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to contemplative Vedāntic practice: meditation on Nārāyaṇa as Parabrahman and discernment of Māyā’s deluding power—key supports for vairāgya (dispassion) and steady dhyāna leading toward liberation.

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

By presenting the Supreme as Brahman beyond sectarian limitation, it supports the Purāṇic synthesis where the highest reality can be praised through Vaiṣṇava names (Vāsudeva, Nārāyaṇa) while remaining compatible with Śaiva yogic-vedāntic frameworks (Māyā, liberation, supreme principle).