Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

ईश्वर उवाच अवाच्यमेतद् विज्ञानं ज्ञानमज्ञैर्बहिष्कृतम् / वक्ष्ये तव यथा तत्त्वं यदुक्तं परमर्षिभिः

Transliteration

īśvara uvāca avācyametad vijñānaṃ jñānamajñairbahiṣkṛtam / vakṣye tava yathā tattvaṃ yaduktaṃ paramarṣibhiḥ

Translation

自在天说道：“此证悟之智，非寻常言语所能尽述；乃愚者所弃之慧。我将如实为你宣说真理，正如至高圣仙所传授。”

Word by Word

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अवाच्यम्: unspeakable / not to be stated
• अवाच्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवाच्य (प्रातिपदिक; √वच्-ण्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘not to be spoken’)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘विज्ञानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विज्ञानम्: realized knowledge
• विज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘विज्ञानम्’ इत्यस्य समनाधिकरणम्

• अज्ञैः: by the ignorant
• अज्ञैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (agent/instrument in passive)

• बहिष्कृतम्: rejected, kept out
• बहिष्कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहिष्कृत (प्रातिपदिक; बहिस् + √कृ-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall explain
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तव: to you / for you
• तव: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• यथा: as, in the manner
• यथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (as/how)

• तत्त्वम्: the truth, principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• उक्तम्: said
• उक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √वच्-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त (said)

• परम-ऋषिभिः: by the supreme sages
• परम-ऋषिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘परमा ऋषयः’

Speaker

Ishvara (the Lord; in Kurma Purana context, Lord Kurma/Vishnu as the divine teacher)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Paramarshis (supreme sages)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames ultimate truth (tattva) as avācya—beyond ordinary language—known through vijñāna (direct realization) rather than mere conceptual talk, echoing the puranic-yogic view that Atman/Brahman is grasped by inner discernment.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While no single technique is named in this verse, it establishes the yogic principle that true knowledge is experiential (vijñāna). In the Kurma Purana’s teaching style, such realization is typically approached through disciplined sadhana—restraint, contemplation, and guru-taught tattva-vicara aligned with Yoga-shastra.

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

By presenting Īśvara as the authoritative revealer of the same tattva taught by the highest rishis, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance: the supreme truth is one, approached through shared yogic and jñāna traditions across Shaiva and Vaishnava lineages.