Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

अन्ये निर्बोजयोगेन ब्रह्मभावेन भाविताः / ध्यायन्ति तत् परं व्योम वासुदेवं परं पदम्

Transliteration

anye nirbojayogena brahmabhāvena bhāvitāḥ / dhyāyanti tat paraṃ vyoma vāsudevaṃ paraṃ padam

Translation

ส่วนผู้อื่นสุกงอมด้วยโยคะไร้พืชเชื้อ (นิรฺพีชะ) และอาบด้วยภาวะแห่งพรหมัน จึงเพ่งภาวนาต่อเวหาสอันสูงสุดนั้น—วาสุเทวะ—ผู้เป็นปรมบท (ปรมธาม).

Word by Word

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nirbīja-yogena: by seedless yoga
• nirbīja-yogena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirbīja (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• brahma-bhāvena: by the state of Brahman
• brahma-bhāvena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhāvitāḥ: imbued; contemplated/meditated upon (as transformed)
• bhāvitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhū/√bhāv (धातु) + -ita (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• dhyāyanti: they meditate
• dhyāyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to तत्

• vyoma: sky; highest space
• vyoma: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to तत्

• vāsudevam: Vāsudeva
• vāsudevam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to तत्

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to पदम्

• padam: abode; state; goal
• padam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna-context discourse on liberation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Brahman

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the “paramaṃ vyoma” and “paramaṃ padam”—a transcendent, all-pervading reality identified with Vāsudeva, realizable through Brahman-consciousness rather than through external supports.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights nirbīja-yoga—meditation without a “seed” (no gross object or conceptual support), culminating in steady dhyāna where the mind rests in Brahman-bhāva and contemplates Vāsudeva as the highest goal.

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

By framing the supreme goal as Brahman-realization attained through yogic absorption and naming that supreme reality as Vāsudeva, the verse supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis where the highest Lord is one, approached through shared yogic and theistic contemplations.