Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

भवान् सर्वात्मको ऽनन्तः सर्वेषां परमेश्वरः / सर्वभूतान्तरात्मा वै परं बह्म सनातनम्

Transliteration

bhavān sarvātmako 'nantaḥ sarveṣāṃ parameśvaraḥ / sarvabhūtāntarātmā vai paraṃ bahma sanātanam

Translation

汝是一切之自性，乃无尽者——为众生之至上主。诚然，汝是万有之内在我，是永恒至上的梵（Brahman）。

Word by Word

• भवान्: you
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग

• सर्व-आत्मकः: of the nature of all
• सर्व-आत्मकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वस्य आत्मा/आत्मकः = of the nature of all)

• अनन्तः: endless, infinite
• अनन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• परम-ईश्वरः: the supreme lord
• परम-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः)

• सर्व-भूत-अन्तर-आत्मा: inner self of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-अन्तर-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत + अन्तर + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां भूतानां अन्तरात्मा)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/उपपादक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (bahma)

• बह्म: Brahman (Absolute)
• बह्म: Karta (कर्ता/समासार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तर: बह्म = ब्रह्म

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (bahma)

Speaker

A devotee/sage addressing Lord Kurma (Vishnu) in praise

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Parameśvara
• Antarātman
• Ananta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as sarvātmaka—present as the very Self of all—and as sarvabhūtāntarātmā, the indwelling consciousness within every being, equating that reality with eternal, supreme Brahman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports inner-directed meditation (antar-mukhatā): contemplating the Lord as the indwelling Ātman in all beings—an essential basis for Purāṇic yoga and Pāśupata-oriented devotion where realization comes through recognizing the one Lord within.

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

By calling the addressed deity both Parameśvara and supreme Brahman dwelling in all, it frames the Supreme beyond sectarian limits—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis in which the one Brahman/Ishvara is revered through both Shaiva and Vaishnava forms.