Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 115

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

दृष्टमात्रो भगवतात ब्रह्मणार्चिर्मयो मुनिः / अपश्यदैश्वरं तेजः शान्तं सर्वत्रगं शिवम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭamātro bhagavatāta brahmaṇārcirmayo muniḥ / apaśyadaiśvaraṃ tejaḥ śāntaṃ sarvatragaṃ śivam

Translation

بھگوان کا محض دیدار ہوتے ہی، برہمن کی شعلہ صفت صورت والے مُنی نے ربّانی اقتدار سے بھرپور نور دیکھا—جو پُرسکون، ہمہ گیر، اور ہر جگہ شیو (مبارک) ہے۔

Word by Word

• दृष्टमात्रः: having merely seen
• दृष्टमात्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—दृष्टम् एव मात्रम् यस्य (Masculine, Nominative singular; ‘only having seen’)

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental singular)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahman / by the Absolute
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental singular)

• अर्चिर्मयः: made of radiance
• अर्चिर्मयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अर्चिषां मयः/अर्चिर्मयः (Masculine, Nominative singular; ‘consisting of rays’)

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्/दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, imperfect, parasmaipada)

• ऐश्वरम्: divine, lordly
• ऐश्वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• तेजः: splendor
• तेजः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; peaceful)

• सर्वत्रगम्: all-pervading
• सर्वत्रगम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—सर्वत्र गच्छति इति (Neuter, Accusative singular; all-pervading)

• शिवम्: auspicious
• शिवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; auspicious)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the sage’s direct vision of Bhagavan/Īśvara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Brahman
• Muni
• Ishvara
• Shiva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Īśvara-tejas—peaceful, all-pervading, and auspicious—implying the Self is realized not as a limited form but as a pervasive, tranquil radiance identical with Brahman’s light.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes darśana (direct contemplative vision): through inner purity and Brahman-oriented absorption, the sage perceives the Lord’s all-pervading tejas—an experiential hallmark aligned with Pāśupata-style devotion joined to meditative insight.

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

By describing the Blessed Lord’s radiance as “Śiva” (the auspicious, all-pervading reality), it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where Bhagavan’s supreme nature can be spoken of in Śaiva terms without contradicting Vaiṣṇava devotion.