Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti
इति श्रीकूर्मपुराणे षट्साहस्त्र्यां संहितायां पूर्वविभागे प्रथमो ऽध्यायः श्रीकूर्म उवाच शृणुध्वमृषयः सर्वे यत्पृष्टो ऽहं जगद्धितम् / वक्ष्यमाणं मया सर्वमिन्द्रद्युम्नाय भाषितम्
iti śrīkūrmapurāṇe ṣaṭsāhastryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pūrvavibhāge prathamo 'dhyāyaḥ śrīkūrma uvāca śṛṇudhvamṛṣayaḥ sarve yatpṛṣṭo 'haṃ jagaddhitam / vakṣyamāṇaṃ mayā sarvamindradyumnāya bhāṣitam
Như vậy, trong Śrī Kūrma Purāṇa, bản tụng sáu nghìn kệ, thuộc Tiền phần, chương thứ nhất kết thúc. Śrī Kūrma phán: “Hỡi các hiền thánh, hãy lắng nghe điều các ông đã hỏi Ta vì lợi ích cho thế gian. Ta sẽ nói trọn vẹn mọi điều, đúng như Ta đã từng nói với vua Indradyumna.”
Lord Kurma (Vishnu in Kurma form)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
This verse does not directly define Ātman; it frames Lord Kūrma as the authoritative teacher whose forthcoming instruction is intended for universal welfare (jagaddhita), a typical Purāṇic setup for later metaphysical exposition.
No specific yoga technique is taught in this line; it functions as a transition into instruction. In the Kūrma Purāṇa’s broader arc, such openings commonly introduce later guidance on dharma and yogic discipline (including Pāśupata-oriented themes in related sections).
The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva, but it establishes a Purāṇic teaching frame where Lord Kūrma (a Viṣṇu form) delivers doctrine that, in this Purāṇa, is often harmonized with Śaiva currents—supporting a synthetic, non-sectarian trajectory across chapters.