Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Lineage of Vyāsas, Division of the Veda, and Vāsudeva/Īśāna as the Veda-Known Supreme

Devanagari script

स गीयते परो वेदे यो वेदैनं स वेदवित् / एतत् परतरं ब्रह्म ज्योतिरानन्दमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

sa gīyate paro vede yo vedainaṃ sa vedavit / etat parataraṃ brahma jyotirānandamuttamam

Translation

他在吠陀中被歌咏为至上者；真正知他者，即为知吠陀者。此即超越一切的梵——至上之光，最胜之乐。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he/that (Lord)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gīyate: is sung/praised
• gīyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of saḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘श्रेष्ठः/परमः’ (supreme)

• vede: in the Veda
• vede: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of vedati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• veda: knows
• veda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• enam: him/this (Lord)
• enam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• veda-vit: a knower of the Veda
• veda-vit: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vit (कृदन्त/क्विप् from विद्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: वेदं वेत्ति इति (knower of the Veda); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• etat: this
• etat: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (here: appositional nominative)

• parataram: higher/supremer
• parataram: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of brahma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paratara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative) ‘more supreme’

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/apposition to etat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• jyotiḥ-ānandam-uttamam: the supreme light and bliss
• jyotiḥ-ānandam-uttamam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Further apposition to brahma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive): उत्तमं ज्योतिः-आनन्दम् (supreme light-bliss); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Vedānta-inflected synthesis consistent with Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava unity

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Brahman
• Jyotis (Light)
• Ananda (Bliss)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Reality praised by the Veda as transcendent Brahman—experienced as pure Light (consciousness) and supreme Bliss—implying the Veda’s final intent is realization of that luminous, blissful Absolute.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes jñāna-centered discipline: knowing the Supreme as the Veda’s essence. In Kurma Purana’s broader yogic frame, this supports meditation on Brahman as inner light and the cultivation of liberating knowledge (jñāna) as the culmination of practice.

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

By focusing on the one transcendent Brahman—supreme Light and Bliss—the verse aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where sectarian forms (Shiva/Vishnu) point to a single highest Reality.