Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

एकं सर्वगतं सूक्ष्मं कूटस्थमचलं ध्रुवम् / योगिनस्तत् प्रपश्यन्ति महादेव्याः परं पदम्

Transliteration

ekaṃ sarvagataṃ sūkṣmaṃ kūṭasthamacalaṃ dhruvam / yoginastat prapaśyanti mahādevyāḥ paraṃ padam

Translation

摩诃提毗（Mahādevī）的至上境界：唯一、遍一切处、微妙、常住不变、不动而恒常；瑜伽行者于观修之定慧中亲见此境。

Word by Word

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्/पदम्-विशेषणम्

• सर्वगतम्: all-pervading
• सर्वगतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ: सर्वत्र गतम्

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle
• सूक्ष्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कूटस्थम्: immutable/steadfast
• कूटस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूट-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कूटे स्थः (unchanging/steadfast)

• अचलम्: unmoving
• अचलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: constant/fixed
• ध्रुवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• योगिनः: yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रपश्यन्ति: behold/see clearly
• प्रपश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; धातु: पश्, उपसर्ग: प्र-

• महादेव्याः: of the Great Goddess
• महादेव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महा देवी

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पदम्-विशेषणम्

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching the Ishvara Gita to Indradyumna and the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Mahadevi
• Yogins

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It describes the ultimate reality as one, all-pervading, subtle, immutable (kūṭastha), unmoving, and eternal—qualities traditionally used for the witnessing Self beyond change.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic realization (prapaśyanti)—direct contemplative seeing—implying steady meditation and inner absorption through which the subtle, changeless reality is personally known rather than merely inferred.

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

By presenting the supreme goal as Mahādevī’s highest state while spoken within the Ishvara Gita discourse of Lord Kūrma, it reflects the Purāṇa’s synthesis: the same supreme reality is approached through Vaiṣṇava teaching and Śaiva-Śākta terminology.