Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

अहं वै सर्वभावानात्मा सर्वान्तरा शिवा / शाश्वतैश्वर्यविज्ञानमूर्तिः सर्वप्रवर्तिका

Transliteration

ahaṃ vai sarvabhāvānātmā sarvāntarā śivā / śāśvataiśvaryavijñānamūrtiḥ sarvapravartikā

Translation

నేనే సమస్త భూతభావముల ఆత్మను—అందరిలో అంతర్యామిణిగా ఉన్న శివా. నేను శాశ్వత ఐశ్వర్య-విజ్ఞాన స్వరూపిని; సమస్త క్రియలను ప్రవర్తింపజేయువదిని.

Word by Word

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), 1st person pronoun

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/assurance)

• sarva-bhāvānām-ātmā: the Self of all beings
• sarva-bhāvānām-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + bhāva + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpurusha: 'self of all beings/states')

• sarva-antarā: present within all
• sarva-antarā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय ('all' + 'inner/within')

• śivā: Śivā (auspicious Goddess)
• śivā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• śāśvata-aiśvarya-vijñāna-mūrtiḥ: the embodiment of eternal sovereignty and knowledge
• śāśvata-aiśvarya-vijñāna-mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāśvata + aiśvarya + vijñāna + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'form embodying eternal lordship and knowledge')

• sarva-pravartikā: the one who sets all in motion
• sarva-pravartikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + pravartika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष ('of all' + 'instigator/activator')

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Ishvara) speaking in the Ishvara Gita discourse (as transmitted within the Kurma Purana narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shivā/Ishvara)
• Atman (Self)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme (Śivā/Ishvara) as the very Ātman of all beings—present within everyone as the inner indweller—so the Self is universal, immanent, and not limited to any single body or mind.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports antaryāmin-dhyāna: meditation on the Lord as the inner Self in all beings. In the Ishvara Gita’s Pāśupata-oriented framework, this undergirds inward contemplation, self-inquiry, and steady devotion (bhakti) to the indwelling Ishvara rather than external ritual alone.

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

By presenting the Supreme as the single inner Self and universal impeller, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the highest reality is one, spoken of as Shiva (Ishvara) within the Ishvara Gita, without denying Vishnu’s supreme status in the broader Purana frame.