Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 102

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

तत्रोत्क्रमणकाले हि सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम् / ददाति तत् परं ज्ञानं येन मुच्येत बन्धनात्

Transliteration

tatrotkramaṇakāle hi sarveṣāmeva dehinām / dadāti tat paraṃ jñānaṃ yena mucyeta bandhanāt

Translation

وہیں جسم سے رخصت ہونے کے وقت وہ تمام جانداروں کو وہ اعلیٰ ترین معرفت عطا کرتا ہے جس سے بندھن سے رہائی ہو جاتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: “there”)

• उत्क्रमणकाले: at the time of departure (death)
• उत्क्रमणकाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्क्रमण-काल (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: उत्क्रमण + काल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“उत्क्रमणस्य कालः” (time of departing)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• एव: certainly/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (restrictive particle: “only/just”)

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ज्ञानम्)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ज्ञानम्)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• मुच्येत: would be freed
• मुच्येत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive sense: “be released”)

• बन्धनात्: from bondage
• बन्धनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Param Jnana
• Bondage (Bandhana)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames liberation as arising from para-jñāna—saving knowledge bestowed by the Supreme—implying that freedom is rooted in direct realization rather than mere ritual or external action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to the culmination of sādhanā: at the time of utkramaṇa (departure), the perfected yogic and devotional maturity ripens into para-jñāna, aligning with Pāśupata-oriented discipline that leads to liberating insight.

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

By presenting the Supreme as the giver of liberating knowledge within the Ishvara Gita milieu, it supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the liberating Lord is understood through a unified Shaiva–Vaishnava lens.