Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

न मां पश्यन्ति मुनयो देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः / नारायणात्मिका चैका मायाहं तन्मया परा

Transliteration

na māṃ paśyanti munayo devāḥ śakrapurogamāḥ / nārāyaṇātmikā caikā māyāhaṃ tanmayā parā

Translation

诸牟尼与诸天——以因陀罗为首——都不能真实地觉知我。唯我是一切幻力（摩耶），其本质即那罗延；而我全然由彼而成，故为至上的神力。

Word by Word

• na: Not
• na: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of negation

• mām: Me
• mām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• paśyanti: See/Perceive
• paśyanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural

• munayaḥ: Sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• devāḥ: Gods
• devāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• śakrapurogamāḥ: Led by Indra (Shakra)
• śakrapurogamāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakrapurogama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• nārāyaṇātmikā: Whose soul/essence is Narayana
• nārāyaṇātmikā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārāyaṇātmikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: And
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• ekā: One/Alone
• ekā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• māyā: Maya (Illusion/Power)
• māyā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tanmayā: Absorbed in Him/Consisting of Him
• tanmayā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tanmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (Taddhita derivative)

• parā: Supreme/Transcendental
• parā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (as the Supreme Lord teaching the Īśvara-gītā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa
• Śakra (Indra)
• Devas
• Munis
• Māyā

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme is not grasped even by gods and sages through ordinary perception; the Lord transcends their vision, while His own power (Māyā) both reveals and veils reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies the need for inner realization (dhyāna/jñāna grounded in īśvara-bhakti), since sensory or intellectual “seeing” is insufficient; one must pierce Māyā through disciplined Yoga aligned with the Lord’s grace.

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

By presenting the Supreme as beyond the reach of even Indra and the devas and identifying divine Māyā as the Lord’s own śakti, the text supports the Purāṇic synthesis where the one Supreme (Īśvara) is approached through both Vaiṣṇava (Nārāyaṇa) and Śaiva (Īśvara/Śakti) theological language.