Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time

Devanagari script

स एव भगवानीशस्तेजोराशिः सनातनः / यं प्रपश्यन्ति विद्वांसः स्वात्मस्थं परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

sa eva bhagavānīśastejorāśiḥ sanātanaḥ / yaṃ prapaśyanti vidvāṃsaḥ svātmasthaṃ parameśvaram

Translation

Siya lamang ang Bhagavān Īśa, ang Walang-hanggang Panginoon—isang walang-kupas na bukal ng banal na liwanag; ang mga pantas ay tuwirang namamasdan ang Parameśvara na nananahan sa loob ng sariling Sarili.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

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

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ईशः: the Lord
• ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तेजोराशिः: mass/heap of radiance
• तेजोराशिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् + राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): तेजसः राशिḥ

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• प्रपश्यन्ति: behold/see clearly
• प्रपश्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• विद्वांसः: the wise (sages)
• विद्वांसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• स्वात्मस्थम्: abiding in one’s own self
• स्वात्मस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + आत्मन् + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (locative determinative): स्वात्मनि स्थितम्; विशेषण

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: परमः ईश्वरः

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the sages/Indradyumna-context discourse on the Supreme

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Isha
• Parameshvara
• Atman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Lord as directly knowable within one’s own Self (svātma-stha), implying an inward, contemplative realization rather than an external object of perception.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to inner contemplation and direct seeing (prapaśyanti) of the Lord in the heart—an inward dhyāna aligned with jñāna-oriented yoga where awareness turns to the indwelling Īśvara.

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

By using universal titles like Īśa and Parameśvara for the one indwelling Supreme, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest reality is one, accessible through inner realization beyond names and forms.