Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

ज्ञानं तदैश्वरं दिव्यं यथावद् विदितं त्वया / स्वयमेव हृषीकेशः प्रीत्योवाच सनातनः

Transliteration

jñānaṃ tadaiśvaraṃ divyaṃ yathāvad viditaṃ tvayā / svayameva hṛṣīkeśaḥ prītyovāca sanātanaḥ

Translation

Tri thức thần linh, tối thượng ấy, ngươi đã thấu hiểu đúng như thật. Khi ấy chính Hṛṣīkeśa—Đấng Chủ Tể vĩnh hằng—vui mừng và trìu mến mà cất lời.

Word by Word

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tad: that
• tad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• aiśvaram: lordly, divine (pertaining to Īśvara)
• aiśvaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• divyam: heavenly, divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathāvat: properly, as it should be
• yathāvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'properly/according to rule'

• viditam: known, understood
• viditam: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Bhāva (भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with jñānam

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• svayam: personally, himself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); adverb

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); particle (निपात) for emphasis

• hṛṣīkeśaḥ: Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa)
• hṛṣīkeśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛṣīkeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); proper noun/epithet

• prītyā: with affection, out of love
• prītyā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said, spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• sanātanaḥ: eternal, ancient
• sanātanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); epithet agreeing with hṛṣīkeśaḥ

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator) describing Lord Hṛṣīkeśa/Kūrma speaking

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hṛṣīkeśa
• Īśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that true realization is “yathāvat”—knowledge grasped as it is—linked to Īśvara-jñāna, where understanding aligns the seeker with the eternal Lord’s reality rather than mere intellectual learning.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse signals the fruition of disciplined inquiry and contemplation culminating in correct Īśvara-jñāna; in the Kurma Purana’s yogic frame, such right knowledge is the gateway to steadiness of mind and devotion that qualifies one for deeper yogic instruction.

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

By emphasizing Īśvara-jñāna and the “eternal Lord” speaking as Hṛṣīkeśa, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian tone where the supreme Īśvara is approached through shared yogic and devotional categories, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava theological language.