Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 73

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

आत्मानन्दपरं तत्त्वं चिन्मात्रं परमं पदम् / आकाशं निष्कलं ब्रह्म तस्मादन्यन्न विद्यते

Transliteration

ātmānandaparaṃ tattvaṃ cinmātraṃ paramaṃ padam / ākāśaṃ niṣkalaṃ brahma tasmādanyanna vidyate

Translation

ଆତ୍ମାନନ୍ଦରେ ନିଷ୍ଠିତ ପରମ ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ହିଁ ପରମ ପଦ—ସେ କେବଳ ଚିନ୍ମାତ୍ର। ସେ ଆକାଶବତ୍ ସର୍ବବ୍ୟାପୀ, ନିଷ୍କଳ ବ୍ରହ୍ମ; ତାହା ଛଡ଼ା ଅନ୍ୟ କିଛି ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• आत्म-आनन्द-परम्: centered in the bliss of the Self
• आत्म-आनन्द-परम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध) ‘आत्मनः आनन्दः’ + ‘पर’ = devoted/supreme in self-bliss

• तत्त्वम्: reality; principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चित्-मात्रम्: mere consciousness; pure awareness
• चित्-मात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘चित् एव मात्रम्’ = pure consciousness alone

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पदम्: state; abode; goal
• पदम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आकाशम्: space; ether
• आकाशम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• निष्कलम्: partless; without divisions
• निष्कलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निः + कल (without parts)

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

• तस्मात्: from that; than that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• विद्यते: exists; is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु) [विद्-सत्तायाम्]
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis (Ishvara-Gita style teaching)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Atman
• Cit (Consciousness)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the highest truth as Self-bliss and pure Consciousness (cinmātra), declaring it the supreme state (paramaṃ padam) and affirming that nothing exists apart from that non-dual Reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not listing techniques, the verse points to the contemplative aim of Yoga: absorption in partless Brahman (niṣkala brahma) by recognizing pure awareness as the sole reality—an orientation consistent with Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-leaning renunciant insight and meditative discrimination (viveka).

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

By teaching a single, partless Brahman beyond all divisions, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu are understood as expressions of the same ultimate Consciousness rather than competing absolutes.