Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 10

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

यथा प्रकाशतमसोः सम्बन्धो नोपपद्यते / तद्वदैक्यं न संबन्धः प्रपञ्चपरमात्मनोः

Transliteration

yathā prakāśatamasoḥ sambandho nopapadyate / tadvadaikyaṃ na saṃbandhaḥ prapañcaparamātmanoḥ

Translation

Kung paanong walang tunay na ugnayan na maitatatag sa pagitan ng liwanag at dilim, gayon din ang “pagkakaisa” na sinasabi sa pagitan ng nahahayag na daigdig (prapañca) at ng Kataas-taasang Sarili (Paramātman) ay hindi ugnayan—sapagkat ang ugnayan ay sa larangan lamang ng anyo at paglitaw.

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• prakāśa-tamasoḥ: of light and darkness
• prakāśa-tamasoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन

• sambandhaḥ: connection
• sambandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sambandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• upapadyate: is possible/occurs
• upapadyate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-pad (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: तद्वत्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (in that manner/likewise)

• aikyam: identity/oneness
• aikyam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aikya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• saṃbandhaḥ: relation
• saṃbandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃbandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• prapañca-paramātmanoḥ: of the world-manifestation and the Supreme Self
• prapañca-paramātmanoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prapañca (प्रातिपदिक) + paramātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

Speaker

Lord Kurma (as Ishvara, teaching the Ishvara Gita)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Prapancha
• Ishvara Gita
• Lord Kurma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Paramātman as categorically distinct from the world of appearances: the Self is self-luminous reality, while the prapañca is like darkness—so any ‘relation’ between them is ultimately untenable from the standpoint of truth.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports viveka (discriminative insight) central to Pāśupata-oriented purification and Ishvara Gita contemplation: the meditator repeatedly discerns the Self as the witness-light and treats worldly superimpositions as non-binding appearances, stabilizing non-attachment and inner steadiness.

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

By teaching non-relational non-duality (beyond worldly categories), it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where Ishvara—revered through Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms—transcends sectarian difference, and ultimate reality is one without a second.