Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

कारणं सर्वभावानामानन्दैकसमाश्रयम् / पुराणं पुरुषं शंभुं ध्यायन् मुच्येत बन्धनात्

Transliteration

kāraṇaṃ sarvabhāvānāmānandaikasamāśrayam / purāṇaṃ puruṣaṃ śaṃbhuṃ dhyāyan mucyeta bandhanāt

Translation

Ai quán niệm Śambhu—Puruṣa nguyên sơ, nguyên nhân của mọi trạng thái hữu thể, chỉ nương tựa nơi an lạc—người ấy được giải thoát khỏi ràng buộc.

Word by Word

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सर्वभावानाम्: of all beings/states
• सर्वभावानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः

• आनन्दैकसमाश्रयम्: whose sole support is bliss
• आनन्दैकसमाश्रयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आनन्द + एक + समाश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आनन्द-एक-समाश्रय = having bliss as the sole refuge/support)

• पुराणम्: ancient
• पुराणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पुरुषम्: the Puruṣa
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शंभुम्: Śambhu
• शंभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुच्येत: would be freed
• मुच्येत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive sense: would be released)

• बन्धनात्: from bondage
• बन्धनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional narration within the Purva-bhāga (teaching voice of the Purāṇa, presenting Śiva-dhyāna as liberating knowledge-practice)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shambhu
• Shiva
• Purusha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as the primordial Puruṣa—both the causal ground of all existence and the very locus of undivided bliss—implying liberation through realizing and contemplating that ultimate reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse centers on dhyāna (steady contemplative meditation) on Śambhu as the bliss-founded cause of all; this aligns with Purāṇic Pāśupata-oriented practice where focused contemplation on Īśvara severs the bonds of saṃsāra.

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

By presenting Śambhu as the primordial Puruṣa and liberating refuge, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where the Supreme is approached through Śiva-language without contradicting the broader Purāṇic non-dual supremacy attributed to the one Īśvara.