Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

वेदवाक्योदितं तत्त्वं वासुदेवः परं पदम् / वेदवेद्यमिमं वेत्ति वेदं वेदपरो मुनिः

Transliteration

vedavākyoditaṃ tattvaṃ vāsudevaḥ paraṃ padam / vedavedyamimaṃ vetti vedaṃ vedaparo muniḥ

Translation

吠陀圣言所宣说的真实即是：瓦苏戴瓦为至上之境。那位专注于吠陀的牟尼，确知此吠陀所教之真理——瓦苏戴瓦，吠陀所当证知者。

Word by Word

• veda-vākya-uditam: proclaimed by Vedic sentences
• veda-vākya-uditam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of tattvam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + udita (कृदन्त/क्त from उद्+इ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: वेदवाक्यैः उदितम् (declared by Vedic statements); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tattvam: the truth/principle
• tattvam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vāsudevaḥ: Vāsudeva
• vāsudevaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate nominative: ‘is Vāsudeva’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of padam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• padam: abode/state/goal
• padam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition to vāsudevaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• veda-vedyam: knowable by the Vedas
• veda-vedyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of imam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vedya (कृदन्त/यत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: वेदैः वेद्यम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• imam: this (one/him)
• imam: Karma (कर्म/Object of vetti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• vedam: the Veda
• vedam: Karma (कर्म/Object—understood with vedaparaḥ: ‘devoted to the Veda’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• veda-paraḥ: devoted to the Veda
• veda-paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of muniḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: वेदे परः/वेदे तत्परः (devoted to the Veda); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of vetti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial/teacher voice within the Purva-bhaga (instructional passage praising Vedic realization of Vasudeva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Veda
• Muni

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Veda-proclaimed ultimate reality with Vāsudeva as the highest goal, implying that true Self-realization culminates in knowing the Supreme Lord as the final purport of Vedic wisdom.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds śruti-based jñāna (Veda-centered contemplative inquiry) supported by devotion to Vedic discipline—an approach that, in the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, aligns knowledge with steady worship and inner absorption toward the Supreme.

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

While Shiva is not named here, the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance frames the Supreme as one reality approached through Vedic truth; this verse emphasizes that unity by declaring the Veda’s highest purport as the Supreme (here named Vāsudeva).