Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

मत्वा पृथक् स्वमात्मानं सर्वस्मादेव केवलम् / आनन्दमजरं ज्ञानं ध्यायीत च पुनः परम्

Transliteration

matvā pṛthak svamātmānaṃ sarvasmādeva kevalam / ānandamajaraṃ jñānaṃ dhyāyīta ca punaḥ param

Translation

既了知自我与万有迥别——纯然独一、离于一切——便当复次观修至上者：安乐、无老、以纯净觉知为体之实相。

Word by Word

• matvā: having considered
• matvā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √man (मन्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• pṛthak: separately; distinct
• pṛthak: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/भेदवाचक (indeclinable adverb: separately)

• svam: one's own
• svam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Sg); आत्मानम् विशेषण

• ātmānam: the self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• sarvasmāt: from everything
• sarvasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Ablative, Singular)

• eva: indeed; just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (indeclinable particle of emphasis)

• kevalam: alone; isolated
• kevalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Sg); आत्मानम् विशेषण

• ānandam: bliss
• ānandam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg)

• ajaram: ageless; undecaying
• ajaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ajara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg); ज्ञानम्/आनन्दम् विशेषण (contextual)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg)

• dhyāyīta: should meditate upon
• dhyāyīta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (ध्यै) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Optative, 3rd sg, Ātmanepada)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

• param: the supreme; the higher (reality)
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg); (ध्यायीत इत्यस्य कर्मविशेषण/विषय)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages (context: Kurma Purana’s yogic-jnana teaching stream in Purva-bhaga)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Param (Supreme)
• Ānanda
• Jñāna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discernment): the Self is to be known as distinct from “all” (body, mind, world), standing alone (kevala), and characterized as blissful, ageless, and pure consciousness (jñāna-svarūpa).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes jñāna-yoga leading into dhyāna: first intellectually and experientially discerning the Self as separate, then repeatedly meditating on the Supreme as ānanda and jñāna—an inward, stabilizing contemplation aligned with Purāṇic yoga discipline.

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

While not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu directly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s unitive theology: the “Param” is approached as one Supreme Reality described through yogic-gnostic attributes (ānanda, ajara, jñāna) that Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions alike identify with the Highest.