Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

आसनं स्वस्तिकं प्रोक्तं पद्ममर्धासनं तथा / साधनानां च सर्वेषामेतत्साधनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

āsanaṃ svastikaṃ proktaṃ padmamardhāsanaṃ tathā / sādhanānāṃ ca sarveṣāmetatsādhanamuttamam

Translation

所谓坐法，宣说有吉祥坐（svastika），亦有莲华坐（padma）与半莲坐。于一切修持（sādhana）之中，此被称为最胜之行门。

Word by Word

• āsanam: posture, seat
• āsanam: Karma (कर्म) (in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.)

• svastikam: svastika (a posture)
• svastikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svastika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.); आसनस्य विशेषणम्

• proktam: is declared
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मणि-भावः ‘has been said’

• padmam: lotus (posture)
• padmam: Karma (कर्म) (elliptic with proktam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.)

• ardha-āsanam: half-seat (half-posture)
• ardha-āsanam: Karma (कर्म) (elliptic with proktam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषः: ardham āsanam

• tathā: also, likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), समुच्चय/अनुक्रम-बोधक (also/likewise)

• sādhanānām: of practices/means
• sādhanānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), बहुवचन (pl.)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), बहुवचन (pl.); सādhanānām इति विशेषणम्

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.); निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• sādhanam: means/practice
• sādhanam: Karta (कर्ता) / Pratijñā (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• uttamam: best, supreme
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); साधनस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Ishvara Gita
• Pashupata Yoga
• Svastika-asana
• Padmasana
• Ardha-padmasana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it prioritizes stable āsana as the best support for sādhanā, implying that realization of the Atman/Ishvara requires steadiness of body and mind rather than mere ritual or theory.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights the foundational yogic requirement of a firm, comfortable seat—Svastikāsana, Padmāsana, and Ardha-padma—as the optimal practical basis for meditation (dhyāna) and higher limbs of Yoga taught in the Ishvara Gita.

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

By presenting Yoga-sādhanā in an Ishvara-centered frame where Vishnu (as Kurma) teaches practices strongly aligned with Shaiva/Pāśupata yogic discipline, the text models a shared, non-sectarian path to the same Supreme Lord.