Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

उभे कृत्वा पादतले जानूर्वोरन्तरेण हि / समासीतात्मनः प्रोक्तमासनं स्वस्तिकं परम्

Transliteration

ubhe kṛtvā pādatale jānūrvorantareṇa hi / samāsītātmanaḥ proktamāsanaṃ svastikaṃ param

Translation

دونوں پاؤں کے تلوے گھٹنوں اور رانوں کے درمیان رکھ کر، نفس کو یکسو کر کے ثابت قدم بیٹھو—اسے “سواستک آسن” کہا گیا ہے، جو پرم آسن ہے۔

Word by Word

• उभे: both
• उभे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Accusative dual feminine); विशेषणम् (पादतले इत्यस्य)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘कृत्वा’ = having made/done

• पादतले: soles of the feet
• पादतले: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Accusative dual neuter); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘पादस्य तलम्’

• जानूर्वोः: of the two knees
• जानूर्वोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Genitive dual neuter)

• अन्तरेण: between
• अन्तरेण: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरेण (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद-प्रयोगः (postposition) ‘between’; सामान्यतः द्वितीयया सह

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

• समासीत: sat (properly)
• समासीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्+आ; परस्मैपद

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular masculine); स्वस्य इत्यर्थे

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया; विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• आसनम्: posture
• आसनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter)

• स्वस्तिकम्: svastika (cross-legged)
• स्वस्तिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); आसनस्य विशेषणम्

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita teaching

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Indradyumna
• Ishvara Gita
• Svastika-asana
• Pashupata Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that realization requires a collected, self-possessed mind (ātmanaḥ). The “supreme” posture is valued not as mere bodily technique, but as support for inner steadiness conducive to Atman-centered contemplation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It prescribes Svastika-āsana: placing the soles between the knees and thighs and sitting calmly. The emphasis is on stable seating (āsana) and mental composure, foundational for dhyāna and the Pāśupata-oriented discipline taught in the Ishvara Gita section of the Kurma Purana.

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

Even while spoken by Lord Kūrma (a Vishnu form), the instruction belongs to the Ishvara Gita’s integrated yoga-teaching stream that aligns Vaiṣṇava devotion with Śaiva/Pāśupata yogic discipline—showing practical unity through shared sādhanā.