Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

यदा सर्वाणि बूतानि स्वात्मन्येवाभिपश्यति / सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा

Transliteration

yadā sarvāṇi būtāni svātmanyevābhipaśyati / sarvabhūteṣu cātmānaṃ brahma saṃpadyate tadā

Translation

当人真实地观见一切众生皆在自我之中，又观见自我亦遍在一切众生之内；就在那一刻，他便证得梵（Brahman）。

Word by Word

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla (कालः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (when)

• sarvāṇi: all
• sarvāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्; अत्र द्वितीया (object-qualifier)

• bhūtāni: beings
• bhūtāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √bhū; कर्म

• sva-ātmani: in his own Self
• sva-ātmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘in one’s own self’; अधिकरणम्

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• abhipaśyati: sees/realizes
• abhipaśyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi+paś (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• sarva-bhūteṣu: in all beings
• sarva-bhūteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘in all beings’; अधिकरणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ātmānam: the Self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; कर्म

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्ता/फलरूपेण (predicate nominative)

• saṃpadyate: becomes/attains
• saṃpadyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ+pad (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (कालः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Atman
• Bhutani (all beings)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It defines realization as a twofold non-dual vision: all beings are known as appearances within one’s own Atman, and that same Atman is recognized as present in every being—this recognition is said to be attainment of Brahman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to yogic realization (ātma-sākṣātkāra) through sustained contemplation and inner seeing (abhipaśyati): meditative absorption where separative perception falls away and the practitioner abides in a unified awareness consistent with the Ishvara Gita’s yogic discipline.

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

Rather than arguing sectarian difference, it presents the highest truth as Brahman/Atman-realization—supporting the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance where the supreme is approached through integrated yogic knowledge, compatible with both Shaiva (Pashupata) and Vaishnava devotion.