Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 25

Īśvara-gītā: Bhakti as the Supreme Means; the Three Śaktis; Non-compelled Lordship

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामेव भक्तानामिष्टः प्रियतरो मम / यो हि ज्ञानेन मां नित्यमाराधयति नान्यथा

Transliteration

sarveṣāmeva bhaktānāmiṣṭaḥ priyataro mama / yo hi jñānena māṃ nityamārādhayati nānyathā

Translation

在我一切奉献者之中，最为我所钟爱者，是那以真实之智恒常礼敬我者——坚定不移，不以他途而动摇。

Word by Word

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m/n) — ‘of all’

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• bhaktānām: of devotees
• bhaktānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• iṣṭaḥ: dear/desired
• iṣṭaḥ: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विशेष्य-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; √iṣ/इष् ‘to desire’ से निष्पन्न)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• priyataraḥ: dearer
• priyataraḥ: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya + tara (प्रातिपदिक; तर्हि-प्रत्यय comparative)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• mama: of me/my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/indeed/for)

• jñānena: by knowledge
• jñānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• nityam: always
• nityam: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative/नित्यं)

• ārādhayati: worships/propitiates
• ārādhayati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rādh (राध्) + ā- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• na: not
• na: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• anyathā: otherwise/in another way
• anyathā: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb/otherwise)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Bhakta
• Jnana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that the highest devotion is inseparable from jñāna—steady discernment of the Lord as the inner reality—so worship becomes constant, not merely ritual or occasional emotion.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to jñāna-yukta upāsanā: continual contemplation and worship grounded in right understanding (viveka), aligning with Ishvara Gita-style discipline where meditation, remembrance, and insight stabilize devotion.

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

By elevating knowledge-based worship of the one Supreme Lord, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same Ishvara is approached through disciplined jñāna and devotion, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava orientations.