Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17
Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī
अयमेवाव्ययः स्त्रष्टा संहर्ता चैव रक्षकः / अमूर्तो मूर्तिमान् भूत्वा मुनीन् द्रष्टुमिहागतः
ayamevāvyayaḥ straṣṭā saṃhartā caiva rakṣakaḥ / amūrto mūrtimān bhūtvā munīn draṣṭumihāgataḥ
唯祂是不朽的创造者、毁灭者与守护者；虽无形相，却示现有形，来此为瞻礼诸圣仙。
Sages (addressing/identifying the Supreme Lord, manifest before them)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents the Supreme as avyaya (imperishable) and as the single source of creation, preservation, and dissolution—transcending change while still capable of manifesting for the sake of devotees and sages.
The verse implies darśana (direct spiritual seeing) of Ishvara: through disciplined contemplation and devotion, the formless Reality becomes knowable, and the Lord may be realized as both nirākāra (formless) and sākāra (with form).
By defining the Supreme as the one Lord who performs all cosmic functions and can appear in form, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: sectarian names differ, but the single Ishvara is ultimately one.