Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode

Devanagari script

कृत्वा हृत्पद्मकिञ्जल्के निष्कलं परमं पदम् / वासुदेवमनाद्यन्तमानन्दं व्योम केवलम्

Transliteration

kṛtvā hṛtpadmakiñjalke niṣkalaṃ paramaṃ padam / vāsudevamanādyantamānandaṃ vyoma kevalam

Translation

当于心莲之丝蕊中安立无分的至上境界时，当观想婆苏提婆——无始无终——即纯净的喜乐本身，唯一天遍的觉知虚空。

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having made/placed
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (gerund/absolutive); 'कृत्वा' = having made/placing

• हृत्पद्मकिञ्जल्के: in the heart-lotus filaments
• हृत्पद्मकिञ्जल्के: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् + पद्म + किञ्जल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (हृदः पद्मस्य किञ्जल्के) = 'in the filaments of the heart-lotus'

• निष्कलम्: partless
• निष्कलम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; पदम् विशेषणम्

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; पदम् विशेषणम्

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

• वासुदेवम्: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अनाद्यन्तम्: without beginning or end
• अनाद्यन्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (अनादि च अन्तश्च—negated: without beginning and end); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वासुदेवस्य विशेषणम्

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वासुदेवस्य विशेषणरूपेण (as bliss)

• व्योम: sky/space
• व्योम: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन्/व्योम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वासुदेवस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• केवलम्: pure/only
• केवलम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; व्योम/वासुदेवस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages/seekers in meditative contemplation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as niṣkala (partless), anādy-anta (beginningless and endless), and as pure ānanda—an all-pervading, non-dual expanse (vyoma) realized inwardly.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes heart-lotus meditation (hṛtpadma-dhyāna): inwardly placing the mind in the spiritual center and contemplating the Supreme as formless, undivided consciousness—an approach aligned with inner worship (antar-yāga) and samādhi-oriented yoga.

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

By framing Vāsudeva as the niṣkala, absolute Reality, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: the Supreme is one, approached through different names and disciplines, harmonizing Shaiva yoga vocabulary with Vaishnava theism.