Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 94

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

अहं हि सर्वभूतानामन्तर्यामीश्वरः परः / सर्गस्थित्यन्तकर्तृत्वं प्रवृत्तिर्मम गीयते

Transliteration

ahaṃ hi sarvabhūtānāmantaryāmīśvaraḥ paraḥ / sargasthityantakartṛtvaṃ pravṛttirmama gīyate

Translation

କାରଣ ମୁଁ ସମସ୍ତ ଭୂତମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବସୁଥିବା ଅନ୍ତର୍ୟାମୀ, ପରମ ଈଶ୍ୱର। ସୃଷ୍ଟି, ସ୍ଥିତି ଓ ପ୍ରଳୟର କର୍ତ୍ତୃତ୍ୱ—ଏହାହିଁ ମୋର ପ୍ରବୃତ୍ତି (ଦିବ୍ୟ କ୍ରିୟା) ବୋଲି ଗୀତ।

Word by Word

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (हि)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis/Reason)

• sarvabhūtānām: of all beings
• sarvabhūtānām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarvabhūta (सर्वभूत)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• antaryāmī: inner controller
• antaryāmī: Predicate
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaryāmin (अन्तर्यामिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• īśvaraḥ: Lord/Ruler
• īśvaraḥ: Predicate
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (ईश्वर)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (पर)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sargasthityantakartṛtvam: agency of creation, maintenance, and destruction
• sargasthityantakartṛtvam: Predicate
• Type: Noun
• Root: sargasthityantakartṛtva (सर्गस्थित्यन्तकर्तृत्व)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Contains Dvandva (sarga-sthiti-anta)

• pravṛttiḥ: activity/nature
• pravṛttiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravṛtti (प्रवृत्ति)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• gīyate: is sung/declared
• gīyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (गै)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Passive, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as Ishvara, teaching in the Ishvara Gita)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Antaryamin

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Antaryāmin—the indwelling Lord within all beings—who remains transcendent (paraḥ) while governing from within.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports inner contemplation on the Antaryāmin: meditation that turns awareness inward to the Lord as the immanent controller, a key orientation behind Ishvara-centered yoga and Pāśupata-style devotion-discipline.

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

By emphasizing a single Supreme Ishvara as the inner ruler and cosmic cause, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the highest Lord can be understood through both Shaiva and Vaishnava theological language.