Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 107

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

वाग्देवी वरदा वाच्या कीर्तिः सर्वार्थसाधिका / योगीश्वरी ब्रह्मविद्या महाविद्या सुशोभना

Transliteration

vāgdevī varadā vācyā kīrtiḥ sarvārthasādhikā / yogīśvarī brahmavidyā mahāvidyā suśobhanā

Translation

هي فاغديفي (Vāgdevī)، إلهةُ الكلمة المقدّسة؛ واهبةُ النِّعَم؛ هي القوّةُ التي تُعبَّر وتُستدعى بالألفاظ؛ وهي المجدُ الذي يحقّق كلَّ مقاصد البشر. وهي يوغيشفري (Yogīśvarī)، سيّدةُ اليوغيين؛ وبراهما-فيديا، معرفةُ براهمان؛ والماهافيديا، معرفةٌ عظمى متلألئة فائقة الجمال.

Word by Word

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (सन्ध्यन्त-रूपम्: वाक्)

• देवी: goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वरदा: boon-giving
• वरदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर-दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; समासः: वरं ददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• वाच्या: to be spoken; expressible
• वाच्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; वाच्य = ‘to be spoken/utterable’

• कीर्तिः: fame, glory
• कीर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वार्थसाधिका: accomplisher of all aims
• सर्वार्थसाधिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-अर्थ-साधिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; समासः: सर्वान् अर्थान् साधयति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• योगीश्वरी: mistress of yogins
• योगीश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन्-ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: योगिनाम् ईश्वरी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ब्रह्मविद्या: knowledge of Brahman
• ब्रह्मविद्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: ब्रह्मणो विद्या (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• महाविद्या: great knowledge; Mahāvidyā
• महाविद्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: महती विद्या (कर्मधारय)

• सुशोभना: very beautiful
• सुशोभना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-शोभना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; समासः: अतिशयेन शोभना (उपसर्गपूर्वक-कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Vāgdevī (Sarasvatī)
• Brahmavidyā
• Yoga-Śakti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying the Goddess as brahma-vidyā and mahā-vidyā, the verse points to liberating knowledge that reveals Brahman/Ātman; speech and fame are elevated as powers that, when aligned with truth and mantra, lead toward the highest aim—mokṣa.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The term yogīśvarī implies the inner Śakti guiding yogins: disciplined speech (mantra-japa), contemplative learning of brahma-vidyā, and concentration that turns words into realization—central to the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented, Pāśupata-leaning devotional discipline.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita’s synthetic theology, Vishnu (as Kūrma) praises the supreme knowledge-power (Śakti) revered across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams; the shared goal is brahma-vidyā leading to liberation, expressing non-sectarian unity in practice and realization.