Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 27

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

कूटस्थो निर्गुणो व्यापी चैतन्यात्मा स्वभावतः / दृश्यते ह्यर्थरूपेण पुरुषैर्भ्रान्तिदृष्टिभिः

Transliteration

kūṭastho nirguṇo vyāpī caitanyātmā svabhāvataḥ / dṛśyate hyartharūpeṇa puruṣairbhrāntidṛṣṭibhiḥ

Translation

真我为库塔斯塔（kūṭastha）不变，超越诸古那，遍一切处，本性即纯觉知；然而对见惑之人，它却似乎呈现为诸物之形。

Word by Word

• कूटस्थः: unchanging; abiding as the witness
• कूटस्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूटस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (चैतन्यात्मा)

• निर्गुणः: without qualities
• निर्गुणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• व्यापी: all-pervading
• व्यापी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• चैतन्य-आत्मा: the Self that is consciousness
• चैतन्य-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैतन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषयपद; समासः—कर्मधारयः (चैतन्य एव आत्मा)

• स्वभावतः: by nature
• स्वभावतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (तद्धितान्त), अर्थे—"स्वभावेन/प्रकृत्या"

• दृश्यते: is seen; appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (निपात)
• Form: निपात, निश्चयार्थ/हेत्वर्थ

• अर्थ-रूपेण: in the form of an object
• अर्थ-रूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; प्रकार/करण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अर्थस्य रूपम्)

• पुरुषैः: by people
• पुरुषैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्तृ-करणवत् (agent in passive)

• भ्रान्ति-दृष्टिभिः: by deluded perceptions
• भ्रान्ति-दृष्टिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भ्रान्तेः दृष्टिः)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Purusha
• Gunas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It defines the Atman as immutable, nirguṇa, all-pervading consciousness, indicating that change and objecthood do not belong to the Self but to mistaken perception.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports discrimination (viveka) and inward contemplation: in Pashupata-oriented Kurma Purana teaching, one withdraws identification from objects and guṇas to recognize the witnessing consciousness as one’s true nature.

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

By teaching a nirguṇa, all-pervading consciousness as the highest reality, the Kurma Purana frames the supreme principle taught by Kurma (Vishnu) in a way compatible with Shaiva Pashupata and Vedantic non-dualism—pointing to one transcendent Self beyond sectarian forms.