Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 83

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

नमो भगवते तुभ्यं वासुदेवाय वेधसे / किं करिष्यामि योगेश तन्मे वद जगन्मय

Transliteration

namo bhagavate tubhyaṃ vāsudevāya vedhase / kiṃ kariṣyāmi yogeśa tanme vada jaganmaya

Translation

ขอนอบน้อมแด่พระองค์ โอ้ ภควาน วาสุเทวะ ผู้ทรงกำหนดสรรพสิ่ง โอ้ โยคีศะ ผู้แผ่ซ่านทั่วจักรวาล โปรดบอกข้าพเจ้าว่า ข้าพเจ้าควรทำสิ่งใด।

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), interjection/particle of salutation

• भगवते: to the Blessed Lord
• भगवते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वासुदेवाय: to Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to भगवते

• वेधसे: to the Ordainer/Creator
• वेधसे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; epithet

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; interrogative used adverbially

• करिष्यामि: shall I do
• करिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• योगेश: O Lord of Yoga
• योगेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of वद

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन (enclitic); here dative sense ‘to me’

• वद: tell/say
• वद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• जगन्मय: O one pervading the universe
• जगन्मय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaganmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; ‘consisting of the universe’

Speaker

A seeker (traditionally King Indradyumna) addressing Lord Kurma as Vāsudeva

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Bhagavan
• Yogesha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By addressing the Lord as “jaganmaya” (the one who pervades/constitutes the universe) and “vedhā” (the ordainer), the verse points to a Supreme reality that is both immanent in all beings and the intelligent governor—suggesting the Atman’s source as the all-pervading Ishvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse frames the essential yogic posture of discipleship: surrender and inquiry before the “Yogeśa” (Lord of Yoga). In the Ishvara Gita setting, this becomes the doorway to disciplined practice—receiving instruction on right conduct, inner restraint, and God-centered meditation associated with Pashupata-oriented devotion.

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

Though the address is to Vāsudeva, the title “Yogeśa” is also a classic epithet of Shiva; the Kurma Purana often uses such shared divine titles to emphasize functional and philosophical unity—one Supreme Ishvara revered through Shaiva and Vaishnava lenses.