Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

जीवनं सर्वभूतानां यत्र लोकः प्रलीयते / आनन्दं ब्रह्मणः सूक्ष्मं यत् पश्यन्ति मुमुक्षवः

Transliteration

jīvanaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ yatra lokaḥ pralīyate / ānandaṃ brahmaṇaḥ sūkṣmaṃ yat paśyanti mumukṣavaḥ

Translation

ସେହି ପରମତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ହିଁ ସର୍ବଭୂତଙ୍କର ଜୀବନ; ଯାହାରେ ଏହି ଲୋକ ଲୟ ପାଏ। ସେହି ହିଁ ବ୍ରହ୍ମର ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ ଆନନ୍ଦ, ଯାହାକୁ ମୁମୁକ୍ଷୁମାନେ ଦେଖନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• jīvanam: life; living principle
• jīvanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• sarvabhūtānām: of all beings
• sarvabhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-bhūta (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Genitive, Plural)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-देशवाचक (indeclinable adverb of place/relative)

• lokaḥ: the world
• lokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• pralīyate: dissolves; is absorbed
• pralīyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√lī (ली) (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (Present, 3rd sg, Ātmanepada; passive/intransitive sense)

• ānandam: bliss
• ānandam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Genitive, Singular)

• sūkṣmam: subtle
• sūkṣmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); विशेषण (qualifying ānandam)

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (यद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter relative pronoun, Accusative, Singular)

• paśyanti: see; behold
• paśyanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश्) (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (Present, 3rd pl, Parasmaipada)

• mumukṣavaḥ: seekers of liberation
• mumukṣavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mumukṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna and the sages (Ishvara-Gita-style teaching)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Mumukshu (liberation-seeker)
• Loka (the world)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as the inner life of all beings and the final ground into which the entire world dissolves—realized as subtle Brahman-bliss by liberation-seekers.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to contemplative realization (direct “seeing”) of subtle Brahmananda—aligned with Ishvara-Gita/Pashupata-oriented meditation that turns inward from the dissolving world toward the imperishable Reality.

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

By presenting a non-sectarian Brahman-bliss as the ultimate refuge and dissolution-point of the cosmos, it supports the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the Supreme taught by Kūrma is the same transcendental Reality revered across Shiva and Vishnu traditions.