Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Svāyambhuva Lineage to Dakṣa; Pṛthu’s Devotion; Pāśupata Saṃnyāsa; Dakṣa–Satī Episode

Devanagari script

मया प्रवर्तितां शाखामधीत्यैवेह योगिनः / समासते महादेवं ध्यायन्तो निष्कलं शिवम्

Transliteration

mayā pravartitāṃ śākhāmadhītyaiveha yoginaḥ / samāsate mahādevaṃ dhyāyanto niṣkalaṃ śivam

Translation

瑜伽行者在此研习由我所开示的圣传（śākhā），便安住于定，礼敬大天（Mahādeva），观想湿婆为“无分者”（Niṣkala）——无有分割、超越一切属性的绝对。

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• प्रवर्तिताम्: set in motion; instituted
• प्रवर्तिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√वृत् (धातु) (causative sense in usage)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शाखाम्)

• शाखाम्: branch (of tradition/teaching)
• शाखाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अधीत्य: having studied
• अधीत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘अधीत्य’ = having studied

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• योगिनः: yogins; practitioners
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• समासते: sit together; remain seated (in contemplation)
• समासते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदी

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• ध्यायन्तः: meditating
• ध्यायन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/प्रत्ययः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरणम् (योगिनः)

• निष्कलम्: partless; without attributes
• निष्कलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शिवम्)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/seekers in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (as speaker implied by 'mayā')
• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Yogins

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Supreme as niṣkala—partless and beyond limiting attributes—indicating an absolute reality approached through contemplative absorption rather than external form.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes disciplined study of an authorized tradition (śākhā) followed by dhyāna—steady meditation—culminating in abiding absorption (samāsate) in Mahādeva as the nirguṇa (attribute-free) principle.

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

With the speaker saying “initiated by me” while directing meditation to Mahādeva, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: Vishnu-authorized teaching leading to realization of Śiva as the transcendent Absolute.