Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

यः शेषशयने शेते विश्वमावृत्य मायया / स्वात्मानुभूतियोगेन तस्मै विश्वात्मने नमः

Transliteration

yaḥ śeṣaśayane śete viśvamāvṛtya māyayā / svātmānubhūtiyogena tasmai viśvātmane namaḥ

Translation

礼敬宇宙之我：安卧于舍沙之上，以自身幻力（摩耶）覆蔽世界；并由亲证自我之瑜伽而得证悟者。稽首毗湿瓦我。

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• śeṣaśayane: on Śeṣa’s bed
• śeṣaśayane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa + śayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular; ‘on the couch/bed of Śeṣa’

• śete: lies, reclines
• śete: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śī (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative, 3rd person singular

• viśvam: the universe
• viśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• āvṛtya: having covered
• āvṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā + √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त); Gerund/absolutive ‘having covered’

• māyayā: by (his) māyā, illusion/power
• māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• sva-ātma-anubhūti-yogena: by the discipline of self-realization
• sva-ātma-anubhūti-yogena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + ātman + anubhūti + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; ‘by the yoga of realization of one’s own self’

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Dative, Singular

• viśva-ātmane: to the universe-ensouled (Viṣṇu)
• viśva-ātmane: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + ātman (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Dative, Singular; ‘to the one whose self is the universe’

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (नमस्कारार्थक); Indeclinable salutation

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) — within the Ishvara Gita teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śeṣa (Ananta)
• Māyā
• Viśvātmā (Universal Self)
• Yoga (svātmānubhūti-yoga)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as Viśvātmā—the inner Self of all—who is not merely cosmic in form (reclining on Śeṣa) but is realized inwardly as one’s own Self through direct spiritual experience.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to svātmānubhūti-yoga: meditative inquiry and absorption leading to immediate realization of the Self, aligning devotion (namaḥ) with inner knowledge (anubhūti) in the Ishvara Gita’s yoga-oriented teaching.

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

By emphasizing the one Viśvātmā realized through yoga beyond names and forms, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme reality praised as Vishnu (on Śeṣa) is the same inner Lord affirmed in Shaiva yogic language.