Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

सर्ववेदार्थविदुषां मनुः स्वायंभुवो ऽस्म्यहम् / ब्रह्मावर्तस्तु देशानां क्षेत्राणामविमुक्तकम्

Transliteration

sarvavedārthaviduṣāṃ manuḥ svāyaṃbhuvo 'smyaham / brahmāvartastu deśānāṃ kṣetrāṇāmavimuktakam

Translation

在真正通达一切吠陀义理的智者中，我为自生摩奴（Svāyambhuva Manu）；在诸国土中，我为梵住地（Brahmāvarta）；在诸圣地朝圣之域中，我为阿毗穆克塔迦（Avimuktaka）。

Word by Word

• सर्ववेदार्थविदुषाम्: of the knowers of the meanings of all Vedas
• सर्ववेदार्थविदुषाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ववेदार्थविद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक) = सर्व + वेद + अर्थ + विद्वस्
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine) (generic); ‘विदुषाम्’ = gen.pl of विद्वस्

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: कर्तृ/प्राधान्य-निर्देश (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• स्वायंभुवः: Svāyambhuva
• स्वायंभुवः: विशेषण (adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वायंभुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); विशेषण of ‘मनुः’

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मावर्तः: Brahmāvarta (a sacred region)
• ब्रह्मावर्तः: कर्तृ/प्राधान्य-निर्देश (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मावर्त (प्रातिपदिक) = ब्रह्मन् + आवर्त
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध-निबन्धन (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• देशानाम्: of regions/countries
• देशानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• क्षेत्राणाम्: of sacred fields/holy places
• क्षेत्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• अविमुक्तकम्: Avimuktaka (holy place)
• अविमुक्तकम्: कर्तृ/प्राधान्य-निर्देश (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; here as predicate nominative (name of a kṣetra)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in a didactic register

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Svayambhuva Manu
• Brahmavarta
• Avimuktaka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By using the formula “among X, I am Y,” the speaker asserts an immanent supremacy: the Divine is present as the highest principle within every class—here, as the archetypal lawgiver (Manu) and as the most sanctifying regions—implying the One Reality pervades and crowns all hierarchies.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this verse; instead it frames a Purāṇic yogic orientation where sādhana is supported by dharma and tīrtha—seeking purity through alignment with Vedic meaning (jñāna) and sanctifying environments (kṣetra-sevā, tīrtha-yātrā), which in the Kaurma tradition complements disciplined yoga.

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

Though Shiva is not named, the choice of Avimuktaka (widely associated with Kāśī, a major Śaiva kṣetra) as the supreme sacred field voiced by a Vishnu-form (Kurma) reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance—honoring Śaiva tīrthas within a Vaishnava divine voice, consistent with Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.