Iśvara on Māyā, the Unmanifest, and the Viśvarūpa of the One Supreme
तदेतत् परमं व्यक्तं प्रभामण्डलमण्डितम् / तदक्षरं परं ज्योतिस्तद् विष्णोः परमं पदम्
tadetat paramaṃ vyaktaṃ prabhāmaṇḍalamaṇḍitam / tadakṣaraṃ paraṃ jyotistad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam
Inilah sesungguhnya Yang Tertinggi, nyata terserlah, dihiasi lingkaran cahaya gemilang. Itulah Akṣara, Yang Tidak Binasa, Cahaya tertinggi; itulah kediaman tertinggi Viṣṇu.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita context)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It presents the Supreme as directly knowable in realization—an imperishable (akṣara) luminous principle (param jyotis), not merely conceptual, and identified with the highest state called Vishnu’s parama-pada.
The verse supports dhyāna on the “supreme light” as a concrete contemplative support—visualized as a radiant halo—aligning with Ishvara Gita style practice where concentration on the imperishable luminous Reality culminates in liberation.
Though naming Vishnu’s supreme abode, it uses universal Shaiva-Yogic language—akṣara and param jyotis—typical of the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the one Supreme is taught through both Vaishnava and Shaiva contemplative idioms.