Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 114

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

ये त्विमं विष्णुमव्यक्तं मां वा देवं महेश्वरम् / एकीभावेन पश्यन्ति न तेषां पुनरुद्भवः

Transliteration

ye tvimaṃ viṣṇumavyaktaṃ māṃ vā devaṃ maheśvaram / ekībhāvena paśyanti na teṣāṃ punarudbhavaḥ

Translation

ଯେମାନେ ଏହି ଅବ୍ୟକ୍ତ ବିଷ୍ଣୁକୁ—କିମ୍ବା ମୋତେ, ଦେବ ମହେଶ୍ୱରଙ୍କୁ—ତତ୍ତ୍ୱତଃ ଏକତ୍ୱଦୃଷ୍ଟିରେ ଦେଖନ୍ତି, ସେମାନଙ୍କର ପୁନର୍ଜନ୍ମ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• देवम्: god/deity
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• महेश्वरम्: the Great Lord (Maheśvara)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय = 'महान् ईश्वरः'

• एकीभावेन: by (seeing) oneness
• एकीभावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकीभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक (by the state of oneness)

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• तेषाम्: for them/of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• उद्भवः: rebirth/origination
• उद्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Maheshvara (Shiva) teaching within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Maheshvara (Shiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation comes from seeing the Supreme as unmanifest and one—whether named Vishnu or Maheshvara—indicating a non-dual (ekībhāva) realization rather than a sectarian difference.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to a contemplative practice central to Pashupata-oriented teaching: meditating on the unmanifest Lord and cultivating ekībhāva (oneness-vision), which culminates in direct realization that ends saṃsāra.

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

It explicitly frames Shiva (Maheshvara) and Vishnu as ultimately one in essence; perceiving them with non-dual understanding is presented as the liberating insight.