Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

यं न पश्यन्ति योगीन्द्राः सांख्या अपि महेश्वरम् / अनादिनिधनं ब्रह्म तमेव शरणं व्रज

Transliteration

yaṃ na paśyanti yogīndrāḥ sāṃkhyā api maheśvaram / anādinidhanaṃ brahma tameva śaraṇaṃ vraja

Translation

Siya na hindi man makita ng mga dakilang Yogin, at hindi rin tunay na masilayan ng mga Sāṅkhya bilang Dakilang Panginoon—Siya ang Brahman na walang simula at walang wakas. Sa Kanya lamang magkanlong.

Word by Word

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

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• योगीन्द्राः: lords among yogis
• योगीन्द्राः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन्+इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (योगिनाम् इन्द्राः)

• सांख्याः: Sāṃkhyas
• सांख्याः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सांख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; मतानुयायी (followers of Sāṃkhya)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: समुच्चय (Additive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (also/even)

• महेश्वरम्: the Great Lord
• महेश्वरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा+ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् ईश्वरः)

• अनादिनिधनम्: without beginning and end
• अनादिनिधनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि+निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (आदिः च निधनं च यस्य न) अर्थतः नञ्-समासभाव

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (ब्रह्म शब्दस्य रूपम्)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• व्रज: go/seek
• व्रज: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Maheshvara
• Yogindras
• Sankhya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Reality as Brahman—beginningless and endless—transcending ordinary perception, even that of advanced Yogins and analytic Sāṅkhya thinkers; thus the Self is ultimately beyond conceptual grasp and is to be approached through surrender to the Absolute.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies the limits of mere yogic attainment or philosophical analysis and points toward a Kurma Purana hallmark: realization culminates in īśvara-śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in the Lord), harmonizing yogic discipline with devotional surrender central to the Ishvara Gita and Pāśupata-oriented theism.

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

By calling the ineffable Brahman “Maheshvara” while spoken by Lord Kurma (Vishnu), it reflects the Purana’s synthesis: the Supreme is one, addressed through Shiva/Vishnu titles without contradiction, emphasizing non-sectarian unity in the highest principle.