Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

त्वां न पश्यन्ति मुनयो यतन्तो ऽपि हि योगिनः / तादृशस्याथ भवतः किमागमनकारणम्

Transliteration

tvāṃ na paśyanti munayo yatanto 'pi hi yoginaḥ / tādṛśasyātha bhavataḥ kimāgamanakāraṇam

Translation

کوشش کرنے والے مُنی—بلکہ ریاضت کرنے والے یوگی بھی—آپ کا دیدار نہیں کر پاتے۔ پھر آپ جیسے کے یہاں آنے کی وجہ کیا ہے؟

Word by Word

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• न: not
• न: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध निपात (negative particle)

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural), परस्मैपद

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• यतन्तः: striving, endeavoring
• यतन्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण of मुनयः

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद निपात (particle: even/also)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निश्चय निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• योगिनः: yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); मुनयः इत्यस्य विशेषण/समनाधिकरण

• तादृशस्य: of such (a one)
• तादृशस्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular); भवतः इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (then/now)

• भवतः: of you (sir)
• भवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular) (honorific)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karta (कर्ता; predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); प्रश्नार्थक

• आगमनकारणम्: cause/reason for (your) coming
• आगमनकारणम्: Karta (कर्ता; predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आगमन (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); ‘आगमनस्य कारणम्’

Speaker

The sages (munis) addressing the manifested Lord (Hari/Kūrma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Yogins
• Sages (Munis)
• The Supreme Lord (implicitly addressed as 'tvām')

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies the Supreme is not an object grasped by ordinary effort or perception; even accomplished yogins may not ‘see’ Him unless He chooses to be revealed—pointing to a transcendent Ishvara beyond the senses and ego-driven striving.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse references strenuous yogic endeavor (yatna) and the limitations of tapas and meditation when divorced from divine grace; in the Kurma Purana’s spiritual frame, disciplined yoga is honored, yet fruition culminates in Ishvara-prasada (the Lord’s favor).

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

By stressing one Supreme reality who is difficult to perceive even for yogins, the verse supports the Purana’s non-sectarian thrust: the highest Ishvara—known as Vishnu or Shiva in different doctrinal idioms—becomes accessible through revelation and grace rather than mere sectarian identity.