Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 20

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

अनात्मन्यात्मविज्ञानं तस्माद् दुः खं तथेतरम् / रगद्वेषादयो दोषाः सर्वे भ्रान्तिनिबन्धनाः

Transliteration

anātmanyātmavijñānaṃ tasmād duḥ khaṃ tathetaram / ragadveṣādayo doṣāḥ sarve bhrāntinibandhanāḥ

Translation

அனாத்மாவில் ஆத்மபுத்தி ஏற்படுவதாலே துயரும், விடுதலைக்கு எதிரான அனைத்தும் உண்டாகின்றன. ராக-த்வேஷ முதலிய குற்றங்கள் அனைத்தும் மயக்கமே காரணமாகப் பிணைந்தவை.

Word by Word

• anātmani: in the non-self
• anātmani: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: an-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī-vibhakti (locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; adhikaraṇa (locus)

• ātma-vijñānam: knowledge (ascription) of self
• ātma-vijñānam: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + vijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā-vibhakti (nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'ātmani vijñānam' / 'ātma-viṣayakaṃ vijñānam'

• tasmāt: therefore, from that
• tasmāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तस्मात्), hetu/causal sense 'therefore/from that'

• duḥkham: sorrow
• duḥkham: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject coordinated with 'itaram'

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha-bodhaka (Adverb/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb/क्रियाविशेषण), 'so/likewise'

• itaram: the other (pleasure)
• itaram: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: itara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'the other (i.e., pleasure)'

• rāga-dveṣa-ādayaḥ: attachment, aversion, etc.
• rāga-dveṣa-ādayaḥ: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāga (प्रातिपदिक) + dveṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; itaretara-tatpuruṣa with ādi: 'rāga-dveṣa-ādi' = 'attachment, aversion, etc.'

• doṣāḥ: faults
• doṣāḥ: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; in apposition to 'rāga-dveṣādayaḥ'

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'doṣāḥ'

• bhrānti-nibandhanāḥ: caused by delusion
• bhrānti-nibandhanāḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate to subject/कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhrānti (प्रातिपदिक) + nibandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'bhrāntyā nibandhanam' / 'bhrānti-nimitta'; predicate adjective of 'doṣāḥ'

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Kurma Purana teaching context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Anatman
• Raga
• Dvesha
• Bhranti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to viveka: the Self is distinct from the not-Self, and suffering begins when the not-Self is mistakenly taken as “I” or “mine.”

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies jñāna-yoga through ātmānātma-viveka (discrimination). In the Kurma Purana’s yogic frame, reducing bhrānti (delusion) weakens rāga-dveṣa and supports steady meditation and inner detachment.

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

By grounding bondage in delusion and advocating Self-knowledge, it aligns with the Purana’s shared Shaiva–Vaishnava soteriology: liberation comes through the same inner realization taught across both traditions, rather than sectarian difference.