Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 2

Īśvara-gītā: The Supreme Lord as Brahman, the Source of Creation, and the Inner Self

Devanagari script

अहं ब्रह्ममयः शान्तः शाश्वतो निर्मलो ऽव्ययः / एकाकी भगवानुक्तः केवलः परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

ahaṃ brahmamayaḥ śāntaḥ śāśvato nirmalo 'vyayaḥ / ekākī bhagavānuktaḥ kevalaḥ parameśvaraḥ

Translation

ਮੈਂ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ-ਸਰੂਪ ਹਾਂ—ਸ਼ਾਂਤ, ਸ਼ਾਸ਼ਵਤ, ਨਿਰਮਲ ਅਤੇ ਅਵਿਨਾਸ਼ੀ। ਮੈਂ ਅਦ੍ਵਿਤੀਯ ਹਾਂ; ਮੈਨੂੰ ‘ਭਗਵਾਨ’ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ—ਮੈਂ ਹੀ ਇਕਮਾਤ੍ਰ ਪਰਮੇਸ਼ਵਰ ਹਾਂ।

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्ममयः: made of Brahman
• ब्रह्ममयः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मणः मयः/ब्रह्ममय (consisting of Brahman)

• शान्तः: peaceful
• शान्तः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शाश्वतः: eternal
• शाश्वतः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• निर्मलः: pure
• निर्मलः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• एकाकी: solitary/alone
• एकाकी: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम (the Blessed Lord)

• उक्तः: called/said to be
• उक्तः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; √वच् (said/called)

• केवलः: alone/absolute
• केवलः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परमेश्वरः: Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: परमः ईश्वरः

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as the Supreme Īśvara, teaching the Ishvara Gita)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Bhagavan
• Parameshvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as Brahman-nature itself—pure, changeless, and one without a second—indicating a non-dual (advaita) ground that is also acknowledged as Īśvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports brahman/īśvara-dhyāna: meditating on the Lord as śānta (perfectly tranquil), nirmala (stainless), and avyaya (imperishable), a key orientation for Pāśupata-style inner purification and one-pointed contemplation.

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

By defining the Supreme as Brahman and Parameśvara beyond limitation, it frames divinity in a unified, non-sectarian way—compatible with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis where the highest reality is one.