Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Meru-Topography: Cities of Brahmā and the Dikpālas; Descent of Gaṅgā; Varṣa-Lotus and Boundary Mountains

Devanagari script

तत्र देवेश्वरेशानं विश्वात्मानं प्रजापतिम् / सनत्कुमारो भगवानुपास्ते नित्यमेव हि

Transliteration

tatra deveśvareśānaṃ viśvātmānaṃ prajāpatim / sanatkumāro bhagavānupāste nityameva hi

Translation

在那里，尊贵的萨那特库玛罗恒常礼敬至上主——诸天之主、大伊舍那、宇宙之我，以及众生之祖的生主（Prajāpati）。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• देव-ईश्वर-ईशानम्: the supreme lord of the gods
• देव-ईश्वर-ईशानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समासः: the lord/sovereign of gods

• विश्व-आत्मानम्: the universal self
• विश्व-आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; बहुव्रीहि-समासः: the one whose self is the universe

• प्रजापतिम्: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग

• सनत्-कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्-कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; कर्मधारय-समासः (proper name): Sanatkumāra

• भगवान्: the venerable one
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; (apposition to सनत्कुमारः)

• उपास्ते: worships
• उपास्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचनम् (adverbial accusative): always

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; causal/emphatic)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Sanatkumāra’s worship; traditionally framed within the sages’ discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Deveśvara (Lord of the gods)
• Īśāna
• Viśvātmā (World-Self)
• Prajāpati
• Sanatkumāra

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the deity “Viśvātmā,” it identifies the Supreme as the inner Self of the entire cosmos—immanent within all beings while remaining the sovereign “Deveśvara.”

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice is nitya-upāsanā—continuous contemplative worship (upāste) that blends devotion with steady meditation on Īśāna as the universal Self, aligning with Purāṇic Yoga ideals that culminate in one-pointed remembrance.

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

Using titles like Īśāna alongside cosmic-Viṣṇu-like epithets (Viśvātmā, Prajāpati), the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: the one Supreme Lord is praised through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava names and functions.