Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 112

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

Devanagari script

ममैषा परमा मूर्तिर्नारायणसमाह्वया / सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्था शान्ता चाक्षरसंज्ञिता

Transliteration

mamaiṣā paramā mūrtirnārāyaṇasamāhvayā / sarvabhūtātmabhūtasthā śāntā cākṣarasaṃjñitā

Translation

“此乃我至上的显现，名为‘那罗延’（Nārāyaṇa）——安住为一切众生之自我，遍在于诸有之中；寂静安然，亦称为‘不坏者’（Akṣara）。”

Word by Word

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मूर्तिः: form/manifestation
• मूर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नारायण-समाह्वया: called ‘Nārāyaṇa’
• नारायण-समाह्वया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + समाह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष = 'नारायणस्य समाह्वया' (having the appellation 'Nārāyaṇa')

• सर्व-भूत-आत्म-भूत-स्था: abiding as the Self of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-आत्म-भूत-स्था: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—'या सर्वभूतानाम् आत्मभूता (आत्मा इव) स्थिता'

• शान्ता: peaceful
• शान्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् शान्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• अक्षर-संज्ञिता: designated as ‘Akṣara’ (imperishable)
• अक्षर-संज्ञिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त), षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष = 'अक्षर इति संज्ञिता'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Akshara (Imperishable Brahman)
• Atman (Self of all beings)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as Nārāyaṇa who abides as the very Ātman of all beings—present within every existence—thereby framing the highest reality as the indwelling Self rather than a merely external deity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative Pashupata-style meditation on the Imperishable (Akṣara): one steadies the mind in śānti (tranquility) and realizes the Lord as the inner Self (antarātman) of all beings—an inward, non-dual orientation central to the Ishvara Gita’s yogic instruction.

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

By presenting the Supreme as the Akṣara reality—peaceful, all-pervading, and the Self of all—this teaching aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where sectarian forms converge in one imperishable Brahman, allowing Shaiva and Vaishnava devotion to meet in a shared non-dual ground.