Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114

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

Devanagari script

वृषासनगता गौरो महाकाली सुरार्चिता / अदितिर्नियता रौद्री पद्मगर्भा विवाहना

Transliteration

vṛṣāsanagatā gauro mahākālī surārcitā / aditirniyatā raudrī padmagarbhā vivāhanā

Translation

هي الجالسة على الثور، غوري المشرقة؛ وهي مهاكالي المعبودة من الآلهة؛ وهي أديتي، المنضبطة الكابحة لنفسها؛ وهي راودري؛ وهي الحاملة للّوتس في أحشائها (رحم الخلق)؛ وهي المركبة المقدّسة لجميع الكائنات—إليها تُرفع هذه التسبحة.

Word by Word

• वृषासनगता: mounted on the bull-seat (bull as mount)
• वृषासनगता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष + आसन + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘वृषासनं गता’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• गौरी: Gaurī
• गौरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम (fem. nom. sg.)

• महाकाली: Mahākālī
• महाकाली: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महान् + काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम (fem. nom. sg.)

• सुरार्चिता: worshipped by the gods
• सुरार्चिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर + अर्चित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सुरैः अर्चिता’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• अदितिः: Aditi
• अदितिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (fem. nom. sg.)

• नियता: disciplined; restrained
• नियता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नियमिता/संयता’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• रौद्री: Raudrī (the fierce one)
• रौद्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम/विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• पद्मगर्भा: lotus-wombed; having a lotus within
• पद्मगर्भा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘पद्मं गर्भः यस्याः’/‘पद्मगर्भयुक्ता’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• विवाहना: having a (distinct) mount/vehicle
• विवाहना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘विशिष्टं वाहनं यस्याः’/‘विविधवाहना’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context, presenting a Devi-stuti aligned with Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Gauri
• Mahakali
• Aditi
• Raudri
• Devi
• Rudra
• Shiva (implied via bull-seat)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting one Goddess through multiple cosmic identities (Gaurī, Mahākālī, Aditi, Raudrī), the verse implies a single supreme Śakti underlying diverse names and functions—pointing to non-dual reality expressed as many.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The epithet niyatā (“disciplined, regulated”) signals niyama—self-restraint and regulated conduct—central to Yoga-shāstra and to Pāśupata-oriented purification, where devotion (stuti) is supported by inner discipline.

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

The Goddess is praised with Śaiva markers (bull-seat, Raudrī) within the Kurma/Vishnu-led Ishvara Gita setting, reflecting the Purana’s teaching that Śiva, Viṣṇu, and Śakti are harmonized expressions of one supreme principle.