Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 29

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

सर्वेश्वराः सर्ववन्द्याः शाश्वतानन्तभोगिनः / एकमेवाक्षरं तत्त्वं पुंप्रधानेश्वरात्मकम्

Transliteration

sarveśvarāḥ sarvavandyāḥ śāśvatānantabhoginaḥ / ekamevākṣaraṃ tattvaṃ puṃpradhāneśvarātmakam

Translation

诸世界之主皆堪受一切礼敬，亦享受恒常无尽的福乐；然而真实唯是一者——不坏之本原——其性为三：Puruṣa（灵我）、Pradhāna（本原质）与 Īśvara（自在主）。

Word by Word

• सर्वेश्वराः: lords of all
• सर्वेश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व+ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सर्ववन्द्याः: revered by all
• सर्ववन्द्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्ववन्द्य (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व+वन्द्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• शाश्वत-अनन्त-भोगिनः: eternal, enjoying endless (bliss)
• शाश्वत-अनन्त-भोगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत + अनन्त + भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्; बहुपद-कर्मधारयः विशेषणम्

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd) एकवचनम्; तत्त्वम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• अक्षरम्: the imperishable (syllable/principle)
• अक्षरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd) एकवचनम्; तत्त्वम् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• तत्त्वम्: reality/principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्

• पुं-प्रधान-ईश्वर-आत्मकम्: having the nature of Puruṣa, Pradhāna, and Īśvara
• पुं-प्रधान-ईश्वर-आत्मकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुंस् + प्रधान + ईश्वर + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मक = having the nature of) तत्त्वम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Puruṣa
• Pradhāna
• Akṣara (Imperishable Reality)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points beyond all subordinate “lords” to a single imperishable Reality (akṣara-tattva), presenting it as the ultimate principle that integrates consciousness (Puruṣa), primordial nature (Pradhāna), and sovereign divinity (Īśvara).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-centered contemplation: meditating on the one Akṣara as the inner essence of Puruṣa–Pradhāna–Īśvara, a doctrinal basis for Pāśupata-style devotion and yogic absorption where the practitioner transcends limited cosmic powers and fixes awareness on the supreme Lord-principle.

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

By teaching one imperishable Īśvara-tattva behind all forms of lordship, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the supreme Lord is one, while names and functions (often expressed as Shiva or Vishnu) are unified in that single Akṣara Reality.