Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 11

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

कृत्वा हृत्पद्मनिलये विश्वाख्यं विश्वसंभवम् / आत्मानं सर्वभूतानां परस्तात् तमसः स्थितम्

Transliteration

kṛtvā hṛtpadmanilaye viśvākhyaṃ viśvasaṃbhavam / ātmānaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ parastāt tamasaḥ sthitam

Translation

于心莲之中安立自我——名为“万有”，亦为宇宙所从生之源；当观想一切众生之至上我，安住于超越惰性（tamas）黑暗之彼岸。

Word by Word

• kṛtvā: having made/placing
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); धातु: कृ

• hṛt-padma-nilaye: in the abode of the heart-lotus
• hṛt-padma-nilaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: हृदि पद्मं तस्य निलयः (in the abode of the heart-lotus)

• viśva-ākhyam: called ‘Viśva’ (universal)
• viśva-ākhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: विश्वम् आख्या यस्य (‘named/known as the universe’)

• viśva-saṃbhavam: the source of the universe
• viśva-saṃbhavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: विश्वस्य सम्भवः (source/origin of the universe)

• ātmānam: the Self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings
• sarva-bhūtānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: सर्वाणि भूतानि

• parastāt: beyond
• parastāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (beyond, on the farther side)

• tamasaḥ: of darkness
• tamasaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• sthitam: situated, abiding
• sthitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘स्थित’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मानम् इति कर्मणि विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on yogic contemplation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• tamas
• heart-lotus (hṛtpadma)
• the universe (viśva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Atman as the inner Self of all beings, identified as the universal principle and the very source of cosmic manifestation, yet transcendent—standing beyond tamas (ignorance and obscuration).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It points to heart-centered dhyāna: establishing awareness in the hṛtpadma (heart-lotus) and contemplating the Self as the universal cause, while recognizing it as beyond the guṇa of tamas—an inward, purifying contemplation aligned with Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

By teaching a single Supreme Self who is both the immanent source of the universe and transcendent beyond tamas, the verse supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the highest reality taught by Vishnu (Kurma) is the same supreme principle revered in Shaiva contemplative frameworks.