Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

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

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

त्वमक्षरं परं धाम चिन्मात्रं व्योम निष्कलम् / सर्वस्याधारमव्यक्तमनन्तं तमसः परम्

Transliteration

tvamakṣaraṃ paraṃ dhāma cinmātraṃ vyoma niṣkalam / sarvasyādhāramavyaktamanantaṃ tamasaḥ param

Translation

你是不坏者（Akṣara），至上的住处；唯纯净觉知，本然无分的虚空。你是一切之所依——未显者（Avyakta）、无尽者——彻然超越昏暗的tamas。

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अक्षरम्: the imperishable
• अक्षरम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); predicate nominal

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying अक्षरम्/धाम

• धाम: abode/splendor
• धाम: Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• चिन्मात्रम्: pure consciousness alone
• चिन्मात्रम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित् + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: चिन्मात्र (तत्पुरुष: ‘mere consciousness’); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• व्योम: space/sky
• व्योम: Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• निष्कलम्: partless/without divisions
• निष्कलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying vyoma/ātman

• सर्वस्य: of all (of everything)
• सर्वस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) used generically, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• आधारम्: support/substratum
• आधारम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); predicate nominal

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying (त्वम्)

• अनन्तम्: endless/infinite
• अनन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying (त्वम्)

• तमसः: from/beyond darkness
• तमसः: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी) or Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); here: Ablative ‘beyond darkness’

• परम्: transcendent/supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying (त्वम्)

Speaker

King Indradyumna (in praise of Lord Kurma as the Supreme Īśvara/Brahman)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Brahman
• Tamas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as akṣara (imperishable) and cinmātra (pure consciousness), the partless substratum of all—an unmanifest, infinite reality beyond tamas (ignorance).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to contemplative meditation on the formless (niṣkala) and unmanifest (avyakta) Īśvara—training the mind to rest in pure awareness beyond tamas, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Īśvara-gītā emphasis on inner realization as the basis of Yoga.

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

By praising Lord Kurma in Brahman-terms (akṣara, niṣkala, avyakta), it supports the Purana’s synthesis: the highest reality spoken of in Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms is one—formless consciousness that can be approached through either devotional name and form.