Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

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

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

अहं वै सर्वलोकानामात्मा लोकमहेश्वरः / मन्मयं सर्वमेवेदं ब्रह्माहं पुरुषः परः

Transliteration

ahaṃ vai sarvalokānāmātmā lokamaheśvaraḥ / manmayaṃ sarvamevedaṃ brahmāhaṃ puruṣaḥ paraḥ

Translation

唯我是一切世界之自我，是诸界之大自在主。此整个宇宙为我所遍满、由我所成；我即梵（Brahman），是超越一切的至上普鲁沙（Purusha）。

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• सर्व-लोकानाम्: of all worlds
• सर्व-लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां लोकानाम्)

• आत्मा: self
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोक-महेश्वरः: great lord of the worlds
• लोक-महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + महा + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (लोकानां महेश्वरः)

• मत्-मयम्: made of me, pervaded by me
• मत्-मयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मया मयम् = consisting of me)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/वाक्यविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (restrictive particle: just/only)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुषः: person, spirit
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परः: supreme, beyond
• परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (puruṣaḥ)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in the Ishvara Gita teaching to King Indradyumna (and assembled sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Purusha
• Atman
• Maheshvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Lord as the inner Self (Ātman) of all worlds and beings—implying a non-dual ground where all existence is rooted in and pervaded by the same ultimate reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports ahamgraha-upāsanā (contemplation of the divine “I” as all-pervading Brahman) and īśvara-dhyāna, aligning with the Ishvara Gita’s yogic aim: steady recognition that the universe is ‘man-maya’—permeated by the Lord.

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

By using the title “loka-maheśvaraḥ” while the speaker is Lord Kurma (Vishnu), it presents a synthesis where Maheshvara-hood and Narayana-hood converge in the one Supreme Brahman-Purusha, emphasizing unity rather than sectarian division.