Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

आत्मानमथ कर्तारं तत्रानलसमत्विषम् / मध्ये वह्निशिखाकारं पुरुषं पञ्चविंशकम्

Transliteration

ātmānamatha kartāraṃ tatrānalasamatviṣam / madhye vahniśikhākāraṃ puruṣaṃ pañcaviṃśakam

Translation

پھر وہاں آتما کو باطنی کرتا کے طور پر، آگ کی مانند درخشاں سمجھ کر دھیان کرو؛ اور عین مرکز میں شعلے کی چوٹی جیسی صورت والے پچیسویں تَتْو—پُرُش—کا تصور کرو۔

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक)

• कर्तारम्: the doer/agent
• कर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय; देशवाचक)

• अनल-सम-त्विषम्: having fire-like radiance
• अनल-सम-त्विषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anala + sama + tviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि-सदृशार्थे तत्पुरुष: ‘whose lustre is like fire’ (अनलसदृशा त्विट् यस्य)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Singular (एकवचन)

• वह्नि-शिखा-आकारम्: flame-of-fire-shaped
• वह्नि-शिखा-आकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vahni + śikhā + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘having the form of a flame of fire’

• पुरुषम्: Person (Puruṣa)
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• पञ्च-विंशकम्: the twenty-fifth
• पञ्च-विंशकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca + viṃśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु-समास: ‘the twenty-fifth’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (as Ishvara instructing the seeker/Indradyumna)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Purusha
• Anala (fire)
• Panchavimshaka (25th tattva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Atman as the inner agent and luminous consciousness, to be realized through inward contemplation rather than external ritual alone.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A dhyāna practice: focusing attention inward, visualizing the indwelling Purusha at the center as a steady flame—an aid for one-pointedness and discernment of consciousness from prakriti.

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

By teaching Ishvara-Gita style inner Purusha-meditation using Pashupata-leaning yogic language while spoken by Kurma (Vishnu), it reflects the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: one supreme consciousness taught through shared yogic categories.