Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

त्वमक्षरं परं ज्योतिस्त्वं कालः परमेश्वरः / त्वमेव पुरुषो ऽनन्तः प्रधानं प्रकृतिस्तथा

Transliteration

tvamakṣaraṃ paraṃ jyotistvaṃ kālaḥ parameśvaraḥ / tvameva puruṣo 'nantaḥ pradhānaṃ prakṛtistathā

Translation

พระองค์คืออักษรอันไม่เสื่อมและแสงสูงสุด; พระองค์คือกาลเวลา โอ้ปรเมศวร พระองค์เท่านั้นคือปุรุษะอันไร้ที่สุด และคือประธาน—ปรกฤติด้วย.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्गे (masc. by context), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अक्षरम्: the imperishable
• अक्षरम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• ज्योतिः: light; radiance
• ज्योतिः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परमेश्वरः: Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक: परम + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed; alone
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• पुरुषः: Puruṣa; person
• पुरुषः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनन्तः: endless; infinite
• अनन्तः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक: अ + अन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रधानम्: Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधानम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti (nature)
• प्रकृतिः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha/Adverbial (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

A devotee/sage addressing the Supreme Lord in the Īśvara-gītā discourse (praise directed to the Lord identified with both Śiva and Viṣṇu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parameśvara
• Akṣara
• Kāla
• Puruṣa
• Pradhāna
• Prakṛti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as Akṣara (imperishable Brahman) and as the supreme Light, while also affirming that the same Lord transcends and includes both consciousness (Puruṣa) and the primordial matrix (Pradhāna/Prakṛti).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Īśvara-centered contemplation: meditating on the Lord as the inner Light (jyotis) and as the ruler of Time (kāla) cultivates steadiness and detachment—key orientations in the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning devotional Yoga framework.

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

By naming the Supreme as Parameśvara and attributing to Him both Sāṅkhya categories (Puruṣa and Prakṛti), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance: one Lord, praised in Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms, is the source and substance of all.