Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 54

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

ओङ्कारस्तत् परं ब्रह्म सावित्री स्यात् तदक्षरम् / एष मन्त्रो महायोगः सारात् सार उदाहृतः

Transliteration

oṅkārastat paraṃ brahma sāvitrī syāt tadakṣaram / eṣa mantro mahāyogaḥ sārāt sāra udāhṛtaḥ

Translation

“Oṃ”即至上梵；萨维特丽（伽雅特丽）被说为那不坏之音节。此咒即大瑜伽本身，被宣示为诸精髓之精髓。

Word by Word

• ओङ्कारः: Oṃkāra
• ओङ्कारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सावित्री: Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī mantra)
• सावित्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावित्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be/is to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अक्षरम्: imperishable syllable
• अक्षरम्: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महायोगः: great yoga (great means of union)
• महायोगः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महायोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: महा + योग

• सारात्: from the essence
• सारात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• सारः: essence
• सारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उदाहृतः: is declared
• उदाहृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘has been declared’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages (Kurma Purana teaching context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Omkara (Oṃ)
• Brahman
• Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying Oṃ with the Supreme Brahman, the verse points to a non-dual ground of reality: the highest Self is approached as the imperishable, all-pervading principle signified by the praṇava.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It elevates japa and contemplation (mantra-yoga) of Oṃ and Sāvitrī as “mahāyoga”—a direct yogic means where disciplined recitation, inner recollection, and absorption in the mantra lead the mind toward Brahman.

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

Rather than sectarian difference, it centers practice on Brahman signified by Oṃ and Sāvitrī—supporting the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where supreme reality transcends names and is accessible through shared yogic-mantric discipline.