Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

त्वं हि तत् परमं ब्रह्म निर्वाणममलं पदम् / भारावतरणार्थाय जातो वृष्णिकुले प्रभुः

Transliteration

tvaṃ hi tat paramaṃ brahma nirvāṇamamalaṃ padam / bhārāvataraṇārthāya jāto vṛṣṇikule prabhuḥ

Translation

ท่านเองคือพรหมสูงสุด—สภาวะแห่งนิรวาณ อันบริสุทธิ์ไร้มลทิน เป็นบรมสถาน. ข้าแต่พระผู้เป็นเจ้า เพื่อบรรเทาภาระแห่งแผ่นดิน ท่านจึงบังเกิดในวงศ์วฤษณิ

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु (particle: indeed/for)

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (appositional)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nirvāṇam: nirvāṇa/liberation
• nirvāṇam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirvāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (apposition to brahma/padam)

• amalam: stainless/pure
• amalam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bhāra-avataraṇa-arthāya: for removing the burden (of the earth)
• bhāra-avataraṇa-arthāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāra + avataraṇa + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भारेण अवतरणस्य अर्थः) = ‘for the purpose of the descent/removal of the burden’

• jātaḥ: born
• jātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे (born/manifested)

• vṛṣṇikule: in the Vṛṣṇi clan
• vṛṣṇikule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣṇi-kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वृष्णीनां कुलम्)

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

A devotee/sage addressing the Lord (Vishnu/Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Nirvana
• Vṛṣṇi-kula (Yadava lineage)
• Prabhu (the Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It equates the Lord with “paramaṃ brahma” and “nirvāṇam amalaṃ padam,” indicating the Supreme Reality as the pure, stainless state of liberation itself—beyond limitation, the final goal of realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself is doctrinal rather than procedural: it frames meditation as Brahman-centered contemplation—recognizing the Lord as the pure nirvāṇa-state—supporting Kurma Purana themes where devotion and knowledge converge toward liberation.

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

By defining the Lord as the one “Supreme Brahman,” it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest reality is one, while divine forms (including Vishnu’s avatāra) function for dharma and cosmic balance.