Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 3

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

तद्वदाशेषसंसारदुः खनाशमनुत्तमम् / ज्ञानं ब्रह्मैकविषयं येन पश्येम तत्परम्

Transliteration

tadvadāśeṣasaṃsāraduḥ khanāśamanuttamam / jñānaṃ brahmaikaviṣayaṃ yena paśyema tatparam

Translation

Gayundin, ituro mo sa amin ang walang kapantay na kaalaman na pumupuksa sa lahat ng pagdurusa ng saṃsāra—ang kaalamang iisa ang paksa, ang Brahman—upang sa pamamagitan nito ay matunghayan namin nang tuwiran ang Kataas-taasang Katotohanan.

Word by Word

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb ‘likewise’

• āśeṣa-saṃsāra-duḥkha-nāśam: the destruction of all worldly suffering
• āśeṣa-saṃsāra-duḥkha-nāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśeṣa + saṃsāra + duḥkha + nāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of (implied) kathaya/bruhi

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with jñānam (understood across pāda)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object requested

• brahma-eka-viṣayam: having Brahman alone as its object
• brahma-eka-viṣayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman + eka + viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifier of jñānam

• yena: by which
• yena: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; relative pronoun

• paśyema: we may see/realize
• paśyema: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tat: that (Brahman)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifier of tat

Speaker

King Indradyumna (addressing Lord Kūrma/Vishnu, seeking liberating knowledge)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Saṃsāra

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to Brahman as the single object of liberating knowledge; realizing that Supreme Reality directly is presented as the means to end saṃsāric suffering.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes jñāna-oriented realization—direct ‘seeing’ (paśyema) of the Supreme—implying contemplative discipline and inner concentration that culminate in Brahman-realization, a key thrust of the Īśvara-gītā’s yogic soteriology.

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

By centering liberation on Brahman as the highest reality, it supports the Purāṇa’s synthetic theology where sectarian forms (Śiva/Vishnu) converge in the same non-dual Supreme to be realized through saving knowledge.