Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 29

Īśvara-gītā: Bhakti as the Supreme Means; the Three Śaktis; Non-compelled Lordship

Devanagari script

पश्याम्यशेषमेवेदं वर्तमानं स्वभावतः / करोति कालो भगवान् महायोगेश्वरः स्वयम्

Transliteration

paśyāmyaśeṣamevedaṃ vartamānaṃ svabhāvataḥ / karoti kālo bhagavān mahāyogeśvaraḥ svayam

Translation

Я созерцаю всю эту вселенную, текущую согласно своей собственной природе; и всё же именно Время — Сам Бхагаван, великий Владыка йоги — по Своей воле совершает всё это.

Word by Word

• paśyāmi: I see
• paśyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश् ‘to see’)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• aśeṣam: entire/without remainder
• aśeṣam: Karma/Qualifier (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘without remainder’

• eva: indeed
• eva: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• vartamānam: existing/occurring
• vartamānam: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vartamāna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vṛt/वृत् ‘to be/occur’ का शतृ/शानच् present participle)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle)

• svabhāvataḥ: by nature
• svabhāvataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘by nature/from inherent nature’

• karoti: does/makes
• karoti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ ‘to do/make’)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• kālaḥ: Time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta/Qualifier (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• mahā-yoga-īśvaraḥ: Lord of great yoga
• mahā-yoga-īśvaraḥ: Karta/Qualifier (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः: ‘lord of great yoga’ (महायोगस्य ईश्वरः)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable; reflexive adverb ‘oneself’)

Speaker

Narrator/teaching voice within the Purva-bhaga (a doctrinal statement presenting Kāla as Īśvara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kāla
• Bhagavān
• Mahāyogeśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Bhagavān in the form of Kāla (Time): the inner governor who makes all transformation occur, even when phenomena appear to unfold “naturally” (svabhāvataḥ).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While no technique is listed, the epithet “Mahāyogeśvara” implies yogic insight into the Lord as the regulator of change; contemplation on Kāla as Īśvara steadies the mind amid arising and passing, a foundation for disciplined yoga and Pāśupata-oriented theism.

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

By describing the Supreme as “Bhagavān” and “Mahāyogeśvara,” it uses titles resonant in both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva traditions, supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where one Īśvara governs the cosmos through Kāla.