Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 80

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

Devanagari script

तं मां वित्त महात्मानं ब्रह्माणं विश्वतो मुखम् / महान्तं पुरुषं विश्वमपां गर्भमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

taṃ māṃ vitta mahātmānaṃ brahmāṇaṃ viśvato mukham / mahāntaṃ puruṣaṃ viśvamapāṃ garbhamanuttamam

Translation

当知“我”即是大心之梵（Brahman）、面向十方的宇宙之主；是与宇宙同体的大丈夫（Mahā-Puruṣa），是无上“水之胎藏”（Apāṃ-garbha），为万有生起的至高本源。

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd), Singular; 1st person pronoun

• vitta: know (you all)
• vitta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahātmānam: the great-souled one
• mahātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; कर्मधारयः ‘mahān ātmā’

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; here ‘Brahmā’ as proper noun sense

• viśvataḥ: from all sides; everywhere
• viśvataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/indeclinable (दिक्/परिमाण-अव्यय): ‘from all sides’

• mukham: face; mouth
• mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; used as epithet with implied bahuvrīhi sense ‘having faces everywhere’

• mahāntam: great
• mahāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies puruṣam

• puruṣam: person; cosmic being
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• viśvam: all; universal
• viśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; used appositionally/qualifying (all-encompassing)

• apām: of the waters
• apām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• garbham: womb; source
• garbham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• anuttamam: unsurpassed; supreme
• anuttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; superlative sense ‘unsurpassed’ qualifying garbham/puruṣam by apposition

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the inquirer (Indradyumna and/or sages) on the nature of the Supreme

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Mahā-puruṣa (Cosmic Person)
• Viśvato-mukha
• Apāṃ-garbha (Hiraṇyagarbha motif)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as Brahman and the Mahā-puruṣa—both transcendent (anuttama) and immanent as the universe (viśvam), indicating a non-dual vision where the Self is the all-pervading source and substance of creation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative upāsanā on the cosmic form (viśvato-mukha) and on the Supreme as the inner source (garbha). In Kurma Purana’s yogic frame, such meditation stabilizes the mind toward īśvara-jñāna, aligning with Pāśupata-leaning devotion and inner absorption.

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

By presenting the Supreme as Brahman and the cosmic Person beyond sectarian limits, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the one Īśvara can be praised as Vishnu (Kurma) while remaining the same absolute reality revered in Shaiva traditions.