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

Devanagari script

त्वं हि तद् वेत्थ परमं सर्वज्ञो भगवानृषिः / नारायणः स्वयं साक्षात् पुराणो ऽव्यक्तपूरुषः

Transliteration

tvaṃ hi tad vettha paramaṃ sarvajño bhagavānṛṣiḥ / nārāyaṇaḥ svayaṃ sākṣāt purāṇo 'vyaktapūruṣaḥ

Translation

నీవే ఆ పరమ తత్త్వాన్ని ఎరుగుదువు, ఎందుకంటే నీవు సర్వజ్ఞుడైన భగవదృషి; నీవు సాక్షాత్ స్వయంగా నారాయణుడు—ఆదిపురుషుడు, అవ్యక్త పురుషుడు।

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; 2nd person pronoun

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving emphasis/causal nuance

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• vettha: you know
• vettha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada; 'you know'

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying tat

• sarvajñaḥ: all-knowing
• sarvajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet in apposition to tvam/nārāyaṇaḥ

• bhagavān: the Blessed One
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet

• ṛṣiḥ: sage
• ṛṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), reflexive adverb 'oneself'

• sākṣāt: directly
• sākṣāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय) 'directly, manifestly'

• purāṇaḥ: the ancient one
• purāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet 'ancient'

• avyakta-pūruṣaḥ: the unmanifest Person
• avyakta-pūruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avyakta (प्रातिपदिक) + pūruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारय 'the unmanifest Person'

Speaker

Sages (addressing Narayana / the divine seer in the opening dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Purusha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

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.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

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).

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

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.