Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

सत्येन सर्वमाप्नोति सत्ये सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् / यथार्थकथनाचारः सत्यं प्रोक्तं द्विजातिभिः

Transliteration

satyena sarvamāpnoti satye sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam / yathārthakathanācāraḥ satyaṃ proktaṃ dvijātibhiḥ

Translation

以真实（satya）能成就一切；一切皆安立于真实之中。以戒行守护，如实而说、如实而行的言语之道，正是二次生者（dvija）所宣称的“真实”。

Word by Word

• सत्येन: by truth
• सत्येन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (sg.)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.)

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• सत्ये: in truth
• सत्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: is established
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: क्रिया-विशेष (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• यथार्थ-कथन-आचारः: the practice of speaking as it is
• यथार्थ-कथन-आचारः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथार्थ (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + कथन (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'practice of speaking what is true')

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared/said
• प्रोक्तम्: क्रिया-विशेष (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); here with 'सत्यम्' as predicate: 'is said'

• द्विजातिभिः: by the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातिभिः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/समूहवाचक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (pl.)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Dharma
• Satya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames truth (satya) as the ground in which all is established—implying that aligning speech and conduct with reality supports realization of the stable, underlying Self rather than the shifting appearances.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights satya as a foundational ethical discipline (yama-like restraint): the steady practice of yathārtha-kathana—speaking in accordance with reality—which purifies intention and supports higher yogic steadiness.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same dharmic discipline of truth is presented as universally authoritative within the Ishvara Gita teaching, transcending sectarian identity while supporting devotion and yoga.