Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

Manvantaras, Indras, Saptarṣis, and the Seven Sustaining Manifestations; Vyāsa as Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

एका भगवतो मूर्तिर्ज्ञानरूपा शिवामला / वासुदेवाभिधाना सा गुणातीता सुनिष्कला

Transliteration

ekā bhagavato mūrtirjñānarūpā śivāmalā / vāsudevābhidhānā sā guṇātītā suniṣkalā

Translation

பகவானின் ஒரு ரூபம் ஞானஸ்வரூபம்; சிவமயம் (மங்களம்) உடையது, மாசற்றது. அது ‘வாசுதேவன்’ என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது; குணங்களைத் தாண்டியதும், முற்றிலும் நிஷ்கலமும் (அகண்டமும்) ஆகும்.

Word by Word

• ekā: one
• ekā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies mūrtiḥ

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• mūrtiḥ: form, manifestation
• mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jñāna-rūpā: knowledge-formed
• jñāna-rūpā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘of the nature of knowledge’

• śivā: auspicious
• śivā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘auspicious’

• amalā: pure, spotless
• amalā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘stainless/pure’

• vāsudeva-abhidhānā: named Vāsudeva
• vāsudeva-abhidhānā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक) + abhidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having the name Vāsudeva’

• sā: she/that (form)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun referring to mūrtiḥ

• guṇa-atītā: beyond the qualities (guṇas)
• guṇa-atītā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + atīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √i + ati + kta)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘gone beyond the guṇas’

• su-niṣkalā: utterly partless
• su-niṣkalā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + niṣkala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘very partless/without divisions’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Ishvara Gita discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Vasudeva
• Shiva (as auspiciousness, śiva)
• Guṇas (sattva-rajas-tamas)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as a single, pure-consciousness reality (jñānarūpa), stainless and beyond the three guṇas—pointing to the Atman/Brahman as nirguṇa and unaffected by material qualities.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports jñāna-yoga and the contemplative aim of Pāśupata-oriented discipline: meditation on the Lord as guṇātīta and niṣkala (partless), withdrawing attention from guṇa-based phenomena toward undivided consciousness.

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

By describing Vāsudeva as śiva (auspicious) and stainless, it frames the highest reality as shared in essence across Shaiva-Vaishnava language—Vishnu named Vāsudeva is taught with Shaiva technical descriptors, expressing a non-dual synthesis.