Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 134

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

एतदेव परं ज्ञानमेष मोक्षो ऽत्र गीयते / एतत् कैवल्यममलं ब्रह्मभावश्च वर्णितः

Transliteration

etadeva paraṃ jñānameṣa mokṣo 'tra gīyate / etat kaivalyamamalaṃ brahmabhāvaśca varṇitaḥ

Translation

唯此即为至上之智；此即此处所宣说的解脱。此为无垢之开瓦利亚（Kaivalya），亦被称为梵之境（brahma-bhāva）。

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifies jñānam

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एषद्/एतद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mokṣaḥ: liberation
• mokṣaḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• atra: here/in this teaching
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• gīyate: is sung/declared
• gīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gai (गै धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्), Passive (कर्मणि), 3rd person, Singular

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• kaivalyam: absolute liberation
• kaivalyam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaivalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• amalam: spotless
• amalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifies kaivalyam

• brahma-bhāvaḥ: state of being Brahman
• brahma-bhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• varṇitaḥ: is described
• varṇitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √varṇ (वर्ण् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past passive participle; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with brahma-bhāvaḥ

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Moksha
• Kaivalya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It equates the highest liberating knowledge with brahma-bhāva—realization of Brahman—implying that liberation is attained through direct knowledge of the ultimate reality rather than through mere external action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds jñāna as the decisive means—pointing to contemplative disciplines central to the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita and allied Pāśupata-oriented practice: inward discernment, steady meditation, and absorption culminating in kaivalya.

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

By defining moksha as brahma-bhāva (the non-dual realization beyond sectarian form), it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the supreme truth praised in Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms converges in one Brahman-centered liberation.