Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 57

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

सर्वशक्तिमयं साक्षाद् यं प्राहुर्दिव्यमव्ययम् / ओङ्कारवाच्यमव्यक्तं रश्मिजालसमाकुलम्

Transliteration

sarvaśaktimayaṃ sākṣād yaṃ prāhurdivyamavyayam / oṅkāravācyamavyaktaṃ raśmijālasamākulam

Translation

முனிவர்கள் நேரடியாக எல்லாச் சக்திகளின் நிறைவு, தெய்வீகமும் அழிவற்றதுமென கூறும் அவரை—ஓங்காரத்தால் சொல்லப்படுபவனாக, அவ்யக்தனாக, கதிர்களின் வலையால் நிறைந்தவனாக—தியானிக்க வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• sarva-śakti-mayam: consisting of all powers
• sarva-śakti-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + śakti + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sarvāḥ śaktayaḥ yasya / śaktibhiḥ mayam) = ‘consisting of all powers’

• sākṣāt: directly
• sākṣāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (directly/manifestly)

• yam: whom/which
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• prāhuḥ: they have declared/call
• prāhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; प्र-उपसर्गः

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• avyayam: imperishable
• avyayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• oṅkāra-vācyam: denoted by Oṃkāra
• oṅkāra-vācyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: oṅkāra + vācya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (oṅkārasya vācyam)

• avyaktam: unmanifest
• avyaktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• raśmi-jāla-samākulam: crowded with a web of rays
• raśmi-jāla-samākulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raśmi + jāla + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (raśmīnāṃ jālam; tena samākulam) = ‘filled with a net of rays’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Omkara (Oṃ)
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)
• Akshara (Imperishable Brahman)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as imperishable and unmanifest, yet directly real—known as the source and substance of all śaktis (powers), indicating Atman/Brahman as both transcendent (avyakta) and all-pervading (radiant through a ‘net of rays’).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to Omkāra-upāsanā: contemplative meditation on Oṃ as the verbal indicator (vācya) of the unmanifest Lord, aligning with Ishvara-centered discipline typical of Pāśupata-oriented Yoga in the Kurma Purana.

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

By defining the Supreme as one imperishable Ishvara—beyond manifestation yet the seat of all powers—it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the highest reality can be approached through both Shaiva and Vaishnava frames without contradiction.