Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 24
Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany
त्वं हि तद् वेत्थ परमं सर्वज्ञो भगवानृषिः / नारायणः स्वयं साक्षात् पुराणो ऽव्यक्तपूरुषः
tvaṃ hi tad vettha paramaṃ sarvajño bhagavānṛṣiḥ / nārāyaṇaḥ svayaṃ sākṣāt purāṇo 'vyaktapūruṣaḥ
நீயே அந்த பரமத் தத்துவத்தை அறிந்தவன்; நீ சர்வஞ்ஞமான பகவத் ரிஷி. நீ சாட்சாத் நாராயணன்—ஆதி, அவ்யக்த புருஷன்।
Sages (addressing Narayana / the divine seer in the opening dialogue)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It identifies the Supreme as the primordial, unmanifest Puruṣa—ultimate reality beyond visible form—personally present as Nārāyaṇa, implying a transcendent Self that can also be directly realized/manifest.
No specific technique is listed in this verse; it sets the theological basis for later sādhana by affirming an omniscient, unmanifest Supreme Person who is fit to be contemplated as the highest object of meditation (īśvara-dhyāna).
While Śiva is not named here, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian framework by presenting the Supreme as the unmanifest Puruṣa personally manifest—an idea later harmonized with Śaiva Pāśupata teachings and Vaiṣṇava Nārāyaṇa devotion.