Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

यदा मनसि चैतन्यं भाति सर्वत्रगं सदा / योगिनो ऽव्यवधानेन तदा संपद्यते स्वयम्

Transliteration

yadā manasi caitanyaṃ bhāti sarvatragaṃ sadā / yogino 'vyavadhānena tadā saṃpadyate svayam

Translation

Kapag sa isipan ay nagliliwanag ang dalisay na Kamalayan (caitanya)—laging naroroon at sumasaklaw sa lahat—kung gayon, para sa yogin na nananatiling walang patid, ang pagsasakatuparan ay kusang sumisibol.

Word by Word

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla (कालः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• manasi: in the mind
• manasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचनम्; अधिकरणम् (locus)

• caitanyam: consciousness
• caitanyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caitanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; अत्र प्रथमा (subject)

• bhāti: shines/appears
• bhāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhā (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• sarvatra-gam: all-pervading
• sarvatra-gam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय) + ga (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘going everywhere’; विशेषणम् (qualifies caitanyam)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (कालः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: नित्यत्ववाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• yoginaḥ: of the yogin
• yoginaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धः (genitive)

• avyavadhānena: without interruption
• avyavadhānena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a+vyavadhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्; करणम्; ‘without interruption’ (instrumental of manner)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (कालः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• saṃpadyate: is attained/comes to be
• saṃpadyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ+pad (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• svayam: by itself
• svayam: Kartṛ-sāhāyaka (कर्तृ-साहायकः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्वकर्तृकत्व/स्वतः (indeclinable; ‘by oneself/of itself’)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Yogin
• Caitanya (Consciousness/Atman)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Self as caitanya—ever-shining, all-pervading awareness—recognized when the mind becomes a clear locus for that constant Consciousness to manifest.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes avyavadhāna—unbroken continuity of practice/absorption—suggesting sustained dhyāna and steadiness of attention until awareness reveals itself naturally.

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

By focusing on impersonal, all-pervading Consciousness as the realized truth, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme reality taught by Vishnu (Kurma) is the same Ishvara revered in Shaiva traditions.