Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

यथा हि धूमसंपर्कान्नाकाशो मलिनो भवेत् / अन्तः करणजैर्भावैरात्मा तद्वन्न लिप्यते

Transliteration

yathā hi dhūmasaṃparkānnākāśo malino bhavet / antaḥ karaṇajairbhāvairātmā tadvanna lipyate

Translation

Kung paanong ang kalawakan ay hindi tunay na nadudungisan sa pagdikit ng usok, gayon din ang Ātman ay hindi nadadapuan ng mga kalagayan at damdaming nagmumula sa panloob na kasangkapan (isip–talino).

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानार्थक (comparative)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (निपात)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• धूम-संपर्कात्: from contact with smoke
• धूम-संपर्कात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम (प्रातिपदिक) + संपर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन; अपादान (source/cause); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धूमस्य संपर्कः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• आकाशः: space; sky
• आकाशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• मलिनः: stained; dirty
• मलिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मलिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आकाशः)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अन्तः-करण-जैः: by those born of the inner instrument (mind)
• अन्तः-करण-जैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय) + करण (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (भावैः); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अन्तःकरणात् जाताः)

• भावैः: by mental states; by conditions
• भावैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण/हेतुवाचक

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (तद्धितान्त), उपमानार्थे—"तथैव"

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• लिप्यते: is tainted; is smeared
• लिप्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita tradition (Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Antahkarana
• Akasha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Ātman is intrinsically pure and untouched; mental states arise in the antaḥkaraṇa, but the witnessing Self is not stained by them—like space unaffected by smoke.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports sāṃkhya-yoga/adhyātma-yoga discernment: observe thoughts and emotions as modifications of the inner instrument, cultivate vairāgya (dispassion) and sākṣī-bhāva (witness-consciousness), central to the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita and Pashupata-flavored renunciant discipline.

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

By emphasizing the non-dual purity of the Self taught in the Ishvara Gita, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where Hari (Vishnu as Kurma) teaches a Shaiva-leaning yogic metaphysics without sectarian contradiction—pointing to one truth realized through yoga.