Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24
Lineage of Vyāsas, Division of the Veda, and Vāsudeva/Īśāna as the Veda-Known Supreme
अवेदं परमं वेत्ति वेदनिष्ठः सदेश्वरः / स वेदवेद्यो भगवान् वेदमूर्तिर्महेश्वरः / स एव वेदो वेद्यश्च तमेवाश्रित्य मुच्यते
avedaṃ paramaṃ vetti vedaniṣṭhaḥ sadeśvaraḥ / sa vedavedyo bhagavān vedamūrtirmaheśvaraḥ / sa eva vedo vedyaśca tamevāśritya mucyate
坚住于吠陀、归敬主宰者，便能知那超越仅仅诵读吠陀的至上。那位薄伽梵——大天（Mahādeva）、大自在天（Mahēśvara），其身即吠陀——为吠陀所可证知。唯他既是吠陀亦是所当知者；唯依止于他，方得解脱。
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis tone (Ishvara-centered instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It points to the Supreme Reality as the ultimate object of knowledge—beyond mere textual learning—realized through Vedic discipline culminating in refuge in Īśvara, who is both the ground of scripture and its final meaning.
The verse emphasizes vedaniṣṭhā (steady Vedic sādhanā: ethical discipline, mantra, worship) joined with īśvara-āśraya (taking refuge in the Lord), a bhakti-inflected yogic orientation aligned with Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning devotion to Mahēśvara as liberating.
By presenting Mahēśvara as the Vedamūrti Bhagavān taught within a Vishnu (Kurma)-voiced discourse, it reflects the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the one Īśvara is praised across names, and liberation comes from surrender to that single Supreme.