Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Mādhayameśvara-māhātmya — Vyāsa at Mandākinī and the Pāśupata Vision

Devanagari script

भगवन् भवता ज्ञातं विज्ञानं परमेष्ठिनः / प्रिसादाद् देवदेवस्य यत् तन्माहेश्वरं परम्

Transliteration

bhagavan bhavatā jñātaṃ vijñānaṃ parameṣṭhinaḥ / prisādād devadevasya yat tanmāheśvaraṃ param

Translation

噢世尊！你已由“诸神之神”的恩典而得知造化主帕拉梅什提因之至上辨慧；那正是属于大自在天摩醯湿伐罗（湿婆）的无上之智。

Word by Word

• bhagavan: O Blessed Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• bhavatā: by you
• bhavatā: Karta (कर्ता—agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental: 'by you')

• jñātam: known, understood
• jñātam: Kriyā (क्रिया—passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) → jñāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'has been known')

• vijñānam: knowledge, realization
• vijñānam: Karma (कर्म—logical object of knowing; grammatical subject with jñātam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• parameṣṭhinaḥ: of Parameṣṭhin (the Supreme Lord/Brahmā)
• parameṣṭhinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• prasādāt: from the grace
• prasādāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान—cause/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• devadevasya: of the God of gods
• devadevasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—of whom the grace is)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः)

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रयोग (relative)

• tat: that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्-सम्बन्ध (correlative)

• māheśvaram: pertaining to Maheśvara (Śiva)
• māheśvaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of vijñānam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (विज्ञानस्य)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (माहेश्वरम्/विज्ञानम्)

Speaker

A questioning sage/devotee addressing the Lord (dialogue frame within Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga teachings)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā)
• Devadeva (Śiva)
• Maheśvara (Śiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that the highest realization (vijñāna) is not merely intellectual but a supreme, grace-bestowed knowledge associated with Maheśvara—pointing to the Atman/Iśvara truth realized through divine anugraha.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds prasāda (divine grace) as essential—an emphasis consistent with Pāśupata-oriented discipline where devotion, purity, and sustained contemplation culminate in higher vijñāna granted by Devadeva.

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

By presenting the supreme knowledge as “māheśvara” and obtained by the God of gods’ grace, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the highest truth is one, approached through Śiva’s lordship even within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇic framework.