Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16
Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga
तस्मादज्ञानमूलो हि संसारः सर्वदेहिनाम् / अज्ञानादन्यथा ज्ञानं तच्च प्रकृतिसंगतम्
tasmādajñānamūlo hi saṃsāraḥ sarvadehinām / ajñānādanyathā jñānaṃ tacca prakṛtisaṃgatam
Vì thế, đối với mọi hữu tình mang thân, luân hồi (saṃsāra) quả thật bắt rễ từ vô minh. Từ vô minh phát sinh một thứ ‘tri’ méo lệch, và sự ngộ nhận ấy gắn chặt với Prakṛti (tự nhiên vật chất).
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita context
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
By stating that saṃsāra is rooted in ignorance and that ‘knowledge’ can become distorted through Prakṛti, the verse implies the Atman/Ishvara is not the cause of bondage; bondage arises from misapprehension due to avidyā and identification with the guṇas.
The verse points to jñāna-yoga and viveka (discernment): one must remove avidyā and see beyond Prakṛti’s guṇas, correcting ‘anyathā-jñāna’ (mis-knowledge) through contemplative inquiry and steady meditative insight aligned with Ishvara’s teaching.
Indirectly, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the liberating instruction about transcending Prakṛti and avidyā is presented as universal Ishvara-teaching—compatible with both Shaiva (Pashupati) and Vaishnava (Narayana/Kurma) frameworks.