Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 13

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

पश्यन्ति मुनयो युक्ताः स्वात्मानं परमार्थतः / विकारहीनं निर्दुः खमानन्दात्मानमव्ययम्

Transliteration

paśyanti munayo yuktāḥ svātmānaṃ paramārthataḥ / vikārahīnaṃ nirduḥ khamānandātmānamavyayam

Translation

Các bậc hiền triết kỷ luật, an trụ trong Yoga, chiêm kiến Tự Ngã của chính mình theo chân lý tối thượng—bất biến, không sầu khổ, bản tính là hỷ lạc, và bất hoại.

Word by Word

• paśyanti: they see
• paśyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• yuktāḥ: disciplined/steadfast
• yuktāḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj + kta (धातु + क्त, कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of munayaḥ

• svātmānam: the Self (one’s own self)
• svātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘स्वस्य आत्मा’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• paramārthataḥ: in the highest truth / truly
• paramārthataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paramārtha (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; अर्थे ‘तत्त्वतः/यथार्थतः’ (in reality)

• vikāra-hīnam: free from modification
• vikāra-hīnam: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikāra + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नञ्-रहितार्थ: ‘विकारैः हीनः’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of svātmānam

• nirduḥkham: free from sorrow
• nirduḥkham: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपसर्गपूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of svātmānam

• ānandātmānam: the Self whose nature is bliss
• ānandātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānanda + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘आनन्दः आत्मा यस्य/आनन्दस्वरूप आत्मा’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to svātmānam

• avyayam: imperishable
• avyayam: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + vyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक (negation), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of svātmānam

Speaker

Narratorial/teaching voice within the Purva-bhaga (sage-instruction context of the Kurma Purana’s yoga-philosophy)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Muni
• Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It defines the Self as ultimately real (paramārtha), changeless (vikārahīna), untouched by suffering (nirduḥkha), intrinsically blissful (ānandātmā), and imperishable (avyaya)—known by direct yogic insight rather than mere theory.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes being “yukta”—steadily integrated in Yoga—implying collected mind, meditation (dhyāna), and inner absorption through which sages directly ‘see’ the Self beyond mental modifications.

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

While no deity-name appears, the teaching aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the highest reality realized in Yoga is one, changeless Self—supporting a non-sectarian, non-dual framing often used to harmonize Shaiva and Vaishnava viewpoints.