Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 27
Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release
सत्त्वं ज्ञानं तमो ऽज्ञानं रजो मिश्रमुदाहृतम् / गुणानां बुद्धिवैषम्याद् वैषम्यं कवयो विदुः
sattvaṃ jñānaṃ tamo 'jñānaṃ rajo miśramudāhṛtam / guṇānāṃ buddhivaiṣamyād vaiṣamyaṃ kavayo viduḥ
Ang sattva ay ipinahayag na kaalaman; ang tamas ay di-kaalaman; at ang rajas ay kalagayang halo. Nalalaman ng mga pantas na ang pagkakaiba-iba ng hilig ng isip ay mula sa hindi pantay na pag-iral ng tatlong guṇa.
Lord Kūrma (as Īśvara), instructing the sages (Iśvara Gītā context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By distinguishing knowledge (sattva) from ignorance (tamas) and the mixed drive of rajas, the verse implies that bondage and clarity belong to the guṇas and buddhi, not to the Atman/Īśvara, who is to be realized when these guṇic distortions are purified.
The verse points to guṇa-śuddhi (purifying the guṇas) as a practical aim: cultivate sattva through disciplined conduct, steady contemplation, and devotion to Īśvara, reduce tamas through wakefulness and clarity, and pacify rajas through restraint—core to the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning Yoga ethos.
In the Ishvara Gita voice of Lord Kūrma, the teaching is framed as universal Īśvara-jñāna: guṇas govern embodied cognition, while the Supreme Lord stands beyond them—harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava metaphysics by centering liberation on devotion and knowledge of the one Īśvara.