Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13
Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation
साधु साधु महाभाग यत्पृष्टं भवता मुने / वक्ष्ये गुह्यतमाद् गुह्यं श्रुण्वन्त्वन्ये महर्षयः
sādhu sādhu mahābhāga yatpṛṣṭaṃ bhavatā mune / vakṣye guhyatamād guhyaṃ śruṇvantvanye maharṣayaḥ
“Lành thay, lành thay!” Hỡi bậc hiền triết phúc đức lớn, điều ngươi hỏi thật hợp đạo. Ta sẽ tuyên bày giáo pháp bí mật tối thượng, kín nhiệm hơn mọi điều kín nhiệm; xin các đại ṛṣi khác cũng hãy lắng nghe.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) addressing the inquiring sage (in the presence of other maharishis)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames the forthcoming instruction as “more secret than the most secret,” indicating that the teaching concerns an inner, experiential truth—classically understood as knowledge of the Self beyond ordinary ritual or discourse.
This verse functions as a preface: it signals that an esoteric yogic/dharmic instruction is about to be taught to qualified listeners (muni and maharishis), aligning with the Purana’s pattern of transmitting higher Yoga-shastra only after a proper inquiry.
By presenting Lord Kurma as the revealer of “the most secret” doctrine to sages, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where Vishnu teaches truths that harmonize with Shaiva yogic currents (such as Pashupata-oriented esotericism) rather than opposing them.