Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

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

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

एष एव वरः श्लोघ्यो यदहं परमेश्वरम् / पश्यामि परमात्मानं भक्तिर्भवतु मे त्वयि

Transliteration

eṣa eva varaḥ śloghyo yadahaṃ parameśvaram / paśyāmi paramātmānaṃ bhaktirbhavatu me tvayi

Translation

唯此一愿，实堪赞颂：愿我得见至上主宰帕拉梅湿伐罗、至上真我帕拉玛特曼；愿我对汝生起虔敬之心（bhakti）。

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphasis particle (निपात)

• varaḥ: boon
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• śloghyaḥ: praiseworthy
• śloghyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śloghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying varaḥ

• yat: that (which)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्-शब्द), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); correlates with “eṣaḥ … varaḥ”

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (अस्मद्), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• parameśvaram: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); samāsa: parama + īśvara (supreme lord)

• paśyāmi: I see
• paśyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष/1st person), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramātmānam: the Supreme Self
• paramātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); samāsa: parama + ātman (supreme self)

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavatu: may it be
• bhavatu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/Imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Singular (एकवचन)

• me: of me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (अस्मद्), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvayi: in you / toward you
• tvayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (युष्मद्), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

King Indradyumna (praying to the Supreme Lord as Parameśvara/Paramātman)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Parameśvara
• Paramātman
• Bhakti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies Parameśvara with the Paramātman, implying the Supreme Lord is not merely a deity “outside,” but the highest Self whose realization is attained through direct vision (darśana) and inner recognition.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds darśana and bhakti as the core spiritual aim—suggesting a Yoga of devotion and contemplation where the “boon” is not worldly power but sustained God-centered awareness leading to vision of the Supreme.

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

By using the universal titles Parameśvara and Paramātman, it points to the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian theology: the Supreme is one, approached through devotion, and understood beyond exclusive Shiva–Vishnu divisions.