Shloka 50
Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching
Iśvara-Gītā Prelude
ज्ञात्वा मां वासुदेवाख्यं यत्र द्वे निहिते ऽक्षरे / विद्याविद्ये गूढरूपे यत्तद् ब्रह्म परं विदुः
jñātvā māṃ vāsudevākhyaṃ yatra dve nihite 'kṣare / vidyāvidye gūḍharūpe yattad brahma paraṃ viduḥ
मां वासुदेवाख्यं ज्ञात्वा यत्र द्वे निहितेऽक्षरे। विद्याविद्ये गूढरूपे, यत्तद् ब्रह्म परं विदुः॥
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna and the sages (Īśvara-gītā discourse)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It identifies the Supreme as Vāsudeva/Brahman, the imperishable reality within which both vidyā (liberating insight) and avidyā (bondage-producing ignorance) subsist; realizing Him is realizing the Supreme Brahman.
The verse points to jñāna-yoga as direct realization—discriminating between vidyā and avidyā and turning the mind toward the imperishable Lord (Īśvara) as the inner ground of both, a key contemplative stance in the Īśvara-gītā’s liberation teaching.
By presenting the Supreme as the one imperishable Brahman beyond dualities like knowledge/ignorance, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest reality is one, approached through different divine names and forms (including Vaiṣṇava Vāsudeva and Śaiva Īśvara).