Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

तस्मादनीश्वरानन्यांस्त्यक्त्वा देवानशेषतः / मामेव संश्रयेदीशं स याति परमं पदम्

Transliteration

tasmādanīśvarānanyāṃstyaktvā devānaśeṣataḥ / māmeva saṃśrayedīśaṃ sa yāti paramaṃ padam

Translation

因此，应当彻底舍离一切非至上主的诸神，只归依于我这位自在主（Īśvara）；如此之人将抵达至高境界。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that)

• अनीश्वरान्: non-supreme (ones)
• अनीश्वरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गजन्य-विशेषण (not-lordly)

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive): having abandoned

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• अशेषतः: completely
• अशेषतः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (adverb): entirely/without remainder

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचनम्, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd)

• एव: alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• संश्रयेत्: should take refuge in
• संश्रयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√श्रि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकारः (Optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; विध्यर्थः (should take refuge)

• ईशम्: the Lord
• ईशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेष्य (object-apposition to माम्)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; पदम् इति विशेषणम्

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the Ishvara Gita to King Indradyumna

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Devas
• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the ultimate object of refuge “Ishvara” and contrasting Him with non-sovereign deities, the verse points to a single supreme principle as the final goal (paramaṃ padam), implying the highest realization is reached through exclusive orientation to the Supreme Lord.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and ekānta-bhakti (one-pointed devotion). In the Ishvara Gita context, this functions as a unifying yogic discipline: withdrawing dependence on lesser supports and fixing mind, faith, and practice on Ishvara alone as the direct means to liberation.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, “Ishvara” denotes the supreme lordship beyond sectarian limitation; the teaching promotes devotion to the one Supreme, a framing that supports Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony by prioritizing the highest Ishvara over merely subordinate divine powers.