Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 45

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

एष आत्माहमव्यक्तो मायावी परमेश्वरः / कीर्तितः सर्ववेदेषु सर्वात्मा सर्वतोमुखः

Transliteration

eṣa ātmāhamavyakto māyāvī parameśvaraḥ / kīrtitaḥ sarvavedeṣu sarvātmā sarvatomukhaḥ

Translation

Я — тот самый Атман: непроявленный, владыка майи, Верховный Господь (Парамешвара), воспеваемый во всех Ведах как Атман всех существ, обращённый ко всем сторонам и пронизывающий всё.

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• ātmā: Self
• ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुषार्थे सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun)

• avyaktaḥ: unmanifest
• avyaktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• māyāvī: possessing māyā/illusory power
• māyāvī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; -इन्/विन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kīrtitaḥ: is proclaimed
• kīrtitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kīrt (धातु) + ta (क्त, past passive participle)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, भूतकर्मणि); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is proclaimed’

• sarva-vedeṣu: in all the Vedas
• sarva-vedeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘सर्वेषु वेदेषु’

• sarvātmā: the Self of all
• sarvātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सर्वेषाम् आत्मा’ (Self of all)

• sarvataḥ-mukhaḥ: having faces in all directions
• sarvataḥ-mukhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सर्वतः मुखानि यस्य’ (having faces everywhere)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking as the Supreme Ishvara

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Maya
• Parameshvara
• Vedas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Lord with the Atman itself—unmanifest yet present as the inner Self of all beings—thus presenting a non-dual, all-pervading Self that the Vedas proclaim.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While no technique is listed explicitly, the verse functions as a meditation-supporting teaching: the practitioner is to contemplate Ishvara as avyakta (beyond form) and as sarvātmā (indwelling in all), a key orientation for Purāṇic yoga and Pāśupata-leaning theism that culminates in inner realization.

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

By using the title Parameśvara and describing the one Lord as the Veda-proclaimed all-pervading Self, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: the supreme reality addressed as Vishnu (Kurma) is equally the supreme Ishvara revered in Shaiva idiom, emphasizing unity over sectarian difference.