Shloka 36
Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues
यया स देवो भगवान् विद्यया वेद्यते परः / साक्षाद् देवो महादेवस्तज्ज्ञानमिति कीर्तितम्
yayā sa devo bhagavān vidyayā vedyate paraḥ / sākṣād devo mahādevastajjñānamiti kīrtitam
วิทยาที่ทำให้รู้จักพระผู้เป็นเจ้าผู้เหนือยิ่งอย่างแท้จริง นั่นแลเรียกว่า ‘ญาณ’; เพราะเป็นมหาเทวะผู้ปรากฏโดยตรงเอง.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in a Shaiva-leaning synthesis
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It defines true jñāna as the direct realization of the transcendent Lord; knowledge is not merely conceptual, but immediate God-realization (sākṣāt), pointing to an experiential understanding of the Supreme.
The verse emphasizes vidyā leading to sākṣāt-realization, aligning with Pāśupata-oriented discipline where meditation, inner purification, and steady contemplation culminate in direct vision of Īśvara rather than only scriptural learning.
By identifying the highest liberating knowledge with Mahādeva while presented within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa voice, it conveys a non-sectarian, non-dual synthesis: the Supreme known through vidyā is one, spoken of as Śiva (Mahādeva) and taught by Hari (Kurma).