Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

Rudra’s Cosmic Dance and the Recognition of Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity (Īśvara-gītā Continuation)

Devanagari script

मुनय ऊचुः त्वामेकमीशं पुरुषं पुराणं प्राणेश्वरं रुद्रमनन्तयोगम् / नमाम सर्वे हृदि सन्निविष्टं प्रचेतसं ब्रह्ममयं पवित्रम्

Transliteration

munaya ūcuḥ tvāmekamīśaṃ puruṣaṃ purāṇaṃ prāṇeśvaraṃ rudramanantayogam / namāma sarve hṛdi sanniviṣṭaṃ pracetasaṃ brahmamayaṃ pavitram

Translation

Мудрецы сказали: Ты один — единый Ишвара, древний Пуруша, Владыка жизненного дыхания, Рудра, наделённый бесконечной йогой. Мы все преклоняемся перед чистым Сознанием, пребывающим в сердце, — Прачетаcом, самой осознанностью, брахманической по природе и очищающей.

Word by Word

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ekam: one, single
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'īśam'

• īśam: Lord
• īśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• puruṣam: Person (Supreme Being)
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• purāṇam: ancient
• purāṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'puruṣam'

• prāṇeśvaram: Lord of the vital breaths
• prāṇeśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्राणानाम् ईश्वरः)

• rudram: Rudra
• rudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anantayogam: of endless yoga (infinite power/union)
• anantayogam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta-yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (अनन्तः योगः यस्य / अनन्तयोगः)

• namāma: we bow
• namāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sarve: all (of us)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sanniviṣṭam: seated/ensconced
• sanniviṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ni-√viś (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying the addressed deity

• pracetasaṃ: the conscious one, the wise
• pracetasaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pra-cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahmamayam: made of/filled with Brahman
• brahmamayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahma-maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः मय)

• pavitram: pure, holy
• pavitram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying the deity

Speaker

Sages (Munis), addressing the Supreme Lord revealed as Rudra within the Ishvara-gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Isha (Ishvara)
• Purusha
• Brahman
• Prana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Lord as the one indwelling Consciousness in the heart (pracetasaḥ) and as brahma-maya—of the nature of Brahman—indicating the Supreme as both inner Self and transcendent Absolute.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to heart-centered contemplation: meditating on the Lord seated within (hṛdi sanniviṣṭaṁ) and recognizing Him as the ruler of prāṇa, aligning with yogic discipline where breath-mastery and inward absorption support realization of the indwelling Ishvara.

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

By praising the Supreme as both īśa/puruṣa and explicitly as Rudra while also declaring Him brahma-maya, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Shiva (Rudra) signifies the same Supreme reality revered across traditions.