Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti
इति श्रीकूर्मपुराणे षट्साहस्त्र्यां संहितायां पूर्वविभागे प्रथमो ऽध्यायः श्रीकूर्म उवाच शृणुध्वमृषयः सर्वे यत्पृष्टो ऽहं जगद्धितम् / वक्ष्यमाणं मया सर्वमिन्द्रद्युम्नाय भाषितम्
iti śrīkūrmapurāṇe ṣaṭsāhastryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pūrvavibhāge prathamo 'dhyāyaḥ śrīkūrma uvāca śṛṇudhvamṛṣayaḥ sarve yatpṛṣṭo 'haṃ jagaddhitam / vakṣyamāṇaṃ mayā sarvamindradyumnāya bhāṣitam
இவ்வாறு ஸ்ரீகூர்மபுராணத்தின் ஆறாயிரச் செய்யுள் கொண்ட ஸம்ஹிதையின் பூர்வப் பிரிவில் முதல் அத்தியாயம் நிறைவுற்றது. ஸ்ரீகூர்மன் கூறினான்—எல்லா முனிவர்களே, உலக நலனுக்காக நீங்கள் என்னைக் கேட்டதை கேளுங்கள்; நான் இந்திரத்யும்ன அரசனிடம் சொன்னதுபோல அனைத்தையும் உரைப்பேன்।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu in Kurma form)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
This verse does not directly define Ātman; it frames Lord Kūrma as the authoritative teacher whose forthcoming instruction is intended for universal welfare (jagaddhita), a typical Purāṇic setup for later metaphysical exposition.
No specific yoga technique is taught in this line; it functions as a transition into instruction. In the Kūrma Purāṇa’s broader arc, such openings commonly introduce later guidance on dharma and yogic discipline (including Pāśupata-oriented themes in related sections).
The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva, but it establishes a Purāṇic teaching frame where Lord Kūrma (a Viṣṇu form) delivers doctrine that, in this Purāṇa, is often harmonized with Śaiva currents—supporting a synthetic, non-sectarian trajectory across chapters.