Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 161

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

तस्मादनादिमद्वैतं विष्णुमात्मानमीश्वरम् / एकमेव विजानीध्वं ततो यास्यथ निर्वृतिम्

Transliteration

tasmādanādimadvaitaṃ viṣṇumātmānamīśvaram / ekameva vijānīdhvaṃ tato yāsyatha nirvṛtim

Translation

پس آغاز سے پاک، غیرِ ثنوی، پرماتما اور پروردگار وشنو کو ایک ہی جانो؛ اسی معرفت سے تم نجات اور ابدی سکون پاؤ گے۔

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; तस्मात् = तद्-शब्दस्य पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपं, हेतौ/तस्मादर्थे (ablatival adverb: “therefore/from that”)

• अनादि: beginningless
• अनादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि (प्रातिपदिक; न-उपसर्ग + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अद्वैतम्: non-dual
• अद्वैतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक; न-उपसर्ग + द्वैत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मानम् इत्यस्य विशेषण-भावे अपि (appositional)

• एकम्: one (alone)
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (particle of emphasis)

• विजानीध्वम्: know; recognize
• विजानीध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + वि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; धातु: ज्ञा (to know)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; काल/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-शब्दात्)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनन्तरं/तस्मात्-परिणामे (then/thereupon)

• यास्यथ: you will go/attain
• यास्यथ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• निर्वृतिम्: cessation; liberation; bliss
• निर्वृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्वृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

A Kurma Purana narrator in the Purva-bhaga (instructional voice presenting Vishnu as the non-dual Supreme)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Atman
• Ishvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Self as Vishnu Himself—beginningless and non-dual—implying that realizing the One Atman as Ishvara is the liberating knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes jnana-yoga (realization through discriminative knowledge): steady contemplation and certainty that the Lord (Ishvara) and the Self (Atman) are one, culminating in nirvriti (liberative peace).

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

While naming Vishnu explicitly, its Advaita framing supports the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis: the supreme Ishvara is one reality beyond sectarian difference, allowing Shaiva-Vaishnava unity in the highest truth.