Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

नित्यानन्दं निराधारं निष्कलं परमं शिवम् / प्रपद्ये परमात्मानं भवन्तं परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

nityānandaṃ nirādhāraṃ niṣkalaṃ paramaṃ śivam / prapadye paramātmānaṃ bhavantaṃ parameśvaram

Translation

ข้าพเจ้าขอถึงพระศิวะสูงสุด ผู้เป็นสุขนิรันดร์ ไร้ที่พึ่งพา ไร้ส่วนแบ่ง และเหนือสิ่งทั้งปวง; ข้าพเจ้าขอถึงพระองค์ ผู้เป็นปรมาตมันและปรมเมศวร

Word by Word

• nitya-ānandam: eternally blissful
• nitya-ānandam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying śivam/parameśvaram

• nir-ādhāram: without support; supportless
• nir-ādhāram: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada-tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with privative nir-; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• niṣkalam: partless; without divisions
• niṣkalam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣ-kala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) privative niṣ-; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying śivam

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prapadye: I take refuge in
• prapadye: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pad (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• parama-ātmānam: the Supreme Self
• parama-ātmānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavantam: you (honorific)
• bhavantam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun of respect (भवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to parameśvaram

• parameśvaram: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound (parama + īśvara); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

A devotee/disciple voice within the Ishvara Gita setting (addressing the Supreme as Shiva, taught in Lord Kurma’s discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Paramatman
• Parameshvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Self as Shiva who is eternal bliss, self-established (not dependent on any substratum), and partless—pointing to an indivisible, transcendent consciousness rather than a limited deity-form.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (complete surrender) and contemplative recognition of the Lord as nirādhāra and niṣkala—key meditative markers used in Pāśupata-oriented devotion and Ishvara Gita instruction.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, the Supreme addressed as “Shiva” is also “Paramatman” and “Parameshvara,” allowing the teaching (spoken in the Kurma/Ishvara Gita milieu) to present a non-sectarian, non-dual Supreme beyond name and form.