Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 101

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

वसेद् वामरणाद् विप्रो वाराणस्यां समाहितः / सो ऽपीश्वरप्रसादेन याति तत् परमं पदम्

Transliteration

vased vāmaraṇād vipro vārāṇasyāṃ samāhitaḥ / so 'pīśvaraprasādena yāti tat paramaṃ padam

Translation

婆罗门当住于瓦罗那西（Vārāṇasī），以摄念安住直至命终；蒙伊湿伐罗（Īśvara）之恩，他亦得至彼至上境界。

Word by Word

• वसेत्: should dwell
• वसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle: “or”)

• आ: up to
• आ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधि-निर्देशक (limit marker)

• मरणात्: until death
• मरणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• विप्रः: a Brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• समाहितः: composed, concentrated
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विप्रः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• ईश्वरप्रसादेन: by the Lord’s grace
• ईश्वरप्रसादेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर-प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: ईश्वर + प्रसाद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“ईश्वरस्य प्रसादः”

• याति: attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पदम्)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पदम्)

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara-Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Varanasi (Kashi)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the highest goal as “paramaṃ padam,” a supreme state attained not merely by ritual status but through inner collectedness (samāhita) and Īśvara’s grace—implying mokṣa as the culminating realization/abidance beyond ordinary worldly identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice is samādhāna/samāhita-bhāva—steady mental integration and contemplative composure—maintained as a lifelong discipline (up to death), aligning with the Ishvara-Gita’s emphasis on devotion-supported yogic steadiness.

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

By using the inclusive term Īśvara and locating liberation in Kāśī (a Śaiva kṣetra) while spoken in the voice of Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: liberation is ultimately through the one Lord’s grace, honored across sectarian forms.