Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

प्रोवाच पृष्टो भगवान् मुनीनां परमेश्वरः / निरीक्ष्य पुण्डरीकाक्षं स्वात्मयोगमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

provāca pṛṣṭo bhagavān munīnāṃ parameśvaraḥ / nirīkṣya puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ svātmayogamanuttamam

Translation

Nang tanungin, ang Bhagavān—ang Kataas-taasang Panginoon ng mga muni—ay nagsalita, matapos pagnilayan ang May-mata-ng-lotus at ang walang kapantay na yoga ng Pinakamataas na Sarili.

Word by Word

• provāca: spoke forth/said
• provāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; with preverb pra-

• pṛṣṭaḥ: asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √prach (प्रच्छ् धातु) + pṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; 'having been asked'

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• munīnām: of the sages
• munīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; कर्मधारय: paramaḥ īśvaraḥ

• nirīkṣya: having looked at
• nirīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form

• puṇḍarīkākṣam: the lotus-eyed one
• puṇḍarīkākṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇḍarīka + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष: puṇḍarīka-ākṣa = 'lotus-eyed' (name/epithet)

• svātmayogam: self-yoga (union with the Self)
• svātmayogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + ātman + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष: sva-ātma-yoga = 'union/discipline of one’s own Self'

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying svātmayogam

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as the Supreme Lord), responding to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara
• Pundarikaksha (Narayana/Vishnu)
• Munis (sages)
• Atma-yoga (Svātma-yoga)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the teaching as grounded in svātma-yoga—realization of the Supreme Self—described as anuttama (unsurpassed), indicating Atman-knowledge as the highest liberating discipline.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes contemplative focus (nirīkṣya) upon Puṇḍarīkākṣa and the practice of svātma-yoga—an inward, Self-centered yoga aligned with the Ishvara Gita’s soteriology.

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

By calling the speaker Parameśvara while also invoking Puṇḍarīkākṣa, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where supreme lordship and liberating yoga are shared across Shaiva–Vaishnava theological language.