Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 192
Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat
Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis
एको ऽन्तरात्मा बहुधा निविष्टो देहेषु देहादिविशेषहीनः / त्वमात्मशब्दं परमात्मतत्त्वं भवन्तमाहुः शिवमेव केचित्
eko 'ntarātmā bahudhā niviṣṭo deheṣu dehādiviśeṣahīnaḥ / tvamātmaśabdaṃ paramātmatattvaṃ bhavantamāhuḥ śivameva kecit
ਇੱਕੋ ਅੰਤਰਾਤਮਾ ਅਨੇਕ ਢੰਗਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਦੇਹਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਦੇਹ ਆਦਿ ਦੇ ਭੇਦਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਰਹਿਤ ਹੈ। ‘ਆਤਮਾ’ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਨਾਲ ਦਰਸਾਇਆ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ-ਤੱਤ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਹੈਂ; ਇਸ ਲਈ ਕੁਝ ਲੋਕ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਆਖਦੇ ਹਨ।
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis context
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It states that the one Inner Self dwells in all bodies without being limited by bodily differences, and that this very indwelling Self is the Supreme Reality (Paramātman-tattva).
The verse points to ātma-vicāra and non-dual contemplation: meditating on the single, attribute-free indwelling Self present in all beings—an orientation consistent with the Kurma Purana’s yogic discipline aimed at Self-realization.
By identifying the Supreme Self as the ultimate referent of ‘Ātman’ and noting that some call that Supreme Reality ‘Śiva,’ it supports a non-sectarian, non-dual synthesis where the highest truth transcends names like Śiva and Viṣṇu.