Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

इहैव भगवान् व्यसः कृष्णद्वैपायनः प्रभुः / दृष्ट्वा तं परमं ज्ञानं लब्धवानीश्वरेश्वरम्

Transliteration

ihaiva bhagavān vyasaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ prabhuḥ / dṛṣṭvā taṃ paramaṃ jñānaṃ labdhavānīśvareśvaram

Translation

就在此世间，尊贵的薄伽梵毗耶娑——黑天·岛生（Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana）大主——得见那至上智慧，遂证得伊湿伐罗（Īśvara），诸主之主。

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord/venerable
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण ‘व्यासः’ इति नाम्नः

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Kṛṣṇa-Dvaipāyana
• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + dvaipāyana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (कृष्णः च द्वैपायनः)

• प्रभुः: the lord/master
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘व्यासः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• लब्धवान्: obtained/attained
• लब्धवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी-अर्थे ‘has obtained’

• ईश्वर-ईश्वरम्: the Lord of (all) lords
• ईश्वर-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ईश्वराणाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Narrator/Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing Vyāsa’s realization

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Krishna Dvaipayana
• Ishvara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames liberation as direct “seeing” (dṛṣṭvā) of supreme knowledge, culminating in attainment of Īśvara—the highest reality—implying that true knowledge is experiential realization that leads to union with the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not listing techniques, the verse emphasizes yogic realization: “beholding” supreme knowledge suggests contemplative insight (jñāna-yoga supported by disciplined practice), consistent with the Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-shāstra orientation where realization ripens into God-attainment.

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

By using the title “Īśvara-īśvara” (Lord of lords), it points to a supreme divine principle beyond sectarian limitation—harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava theology in the Kurma Purana’s characteristic synthesis.