Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

तत्र देवर्षिगन्धर्वैः सिद्धैश्च भगवानजः / उपास्यते स विश्वात्मा साक्षी सर्वस्य विश्वसृक्

Transliteration

tatra devarṣigandharvaiḥ siddhaiśca bhagavānajaḥ / upāsyate sa viśvātmā sākṣī sarvasya viśvasṛk

Translation

在那里，福德无生之主阿阇（Aja）为天仙圣贤、乾闼婆与成就者所礼敬供养。祂是宇宙之我，见证一切，亦为世界之创造者。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• देवर्षि-गन्धर्वैः: by the divine seers and gandharvas
• देवर्षि-गन्धर्वैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative): ‘devarṣis and gandharvas’

• सिद्धैः: by the siddhas
• सिद्धैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अजः: the unborn one
• अजः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘unborn’ (epithet)

• उपास्यते: is worshipped
• उपास्यते: कर्म (Karma/Object of worship; passive subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is worshipped’

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विश्वात्मा: the universal Self
• विश्वात्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of the universe’ + ‘self’

• साक्षी: witness
• साक्षी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• सर्वस्य: of all
• सर्वस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषण (genitive: ‘of all’)

• विश्वसृक्: creator of the universe
• विश्वसृक्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्विप्/agent noun): सृज् → सृक् ‘creator’; तत्पुरुष: ‘creator of the universe’

Speaker

Purana narrator (Suta/Vyasa tradition), describing the Lord worshipped by higher beings

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan Aja (the Unborn Lord)
• Devarshis
• Gandharvas
• Siddhas
• Vishvatman (Universal Self)
• Sakshi (Witness)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Lord as viśvātmā (the Universal Self) and sākṣī (the inner witness) of all beings and events—indicating a transcendent, all-pervading consciousness that also grounds the cosmos.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice implied is upāsanā—devotional contemplation and meditative worship—cultivating sākṣī-bhāva (witness-awareness) toward the Supreme who is both immanent (as Self) and transcendent (as the Unborn).

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

By emphasizing one Supreme Lord as the universal witness and creator—worshipped by exalted beings—the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where sectarian names differ, but the ultimate reality (Īśvara) is one.