Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

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

Devanagari script

सर्वेश्वरप्रिया तार्क्ष्या समुद्रान्तरवासिनी / अकलङ्का निराधारा नित्यसिद्धा निरामया

Transliteration

sarveśvarapriyā tārkṣyā samudrāntaravāsinī / akalaṅkā nirādhārā nityasiddhā nirāmayā

Translation

محبوبةُ ربِّ الجميع، يا تاركشيا، الساكنةُ في أعماق المحيط—طاهرةٌ بلا دنس، لا تعتمد على سندٍ خارجي، كاملةٌ على الدوام، وبريئةٌ من كلّ علّةٍ وأذى.

Word by Word

• सर्वेश्वरप्रिया: beloved of the Lord of all / beloved of all lords
• सर्वेश्वरप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-ईश्वर-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां ईश्वराणां प्रिया / सर्वेश्वरस्य प्रिया)

• तार्क्ष्या: Tārkṣyā (an epithet/name)
• तार्क्ष्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम/उपाधि (epithet; related to Tārkṣya/Garuḍa lineage)

• समुद्रान्तरवासिनी: dwelling within the ocean
• समुद्रान्तरवासिनी: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative role)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्र-अन्तर-वासिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—सप्तमी/अधिकरण-तत्पुरुषः (समुद्र-अन्तरे वसति इति)

• अकलङ्का: spotless; stainless
• अकलङ्का: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-कलङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासः (कलङ्क-रहिता)

• निराधारा: without support; self-supported
• निराधारा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर् (without) + आधार

• नित्यसिद्धा: eternally perfected
• नित्यसिद्धा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य-सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (नित्यं सिद्धा = ever-accomplished/perfected)

• निरामया: free from disease; unailing
• निरामया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-आमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर् (without) + आमय (disease)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing/teaching in the Ishvara Gita context, presenting a devotional-philosophical praise consistent with Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Devī (Śakti)
• Samudra (Ocean)

More Details (5 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the Devī as “nirādhārā” (not dependent on anything) and “nitya-siddhā” (ever-perfect), the verse points to the ultimate reality as self-established and complete—attributes aligned with the Atman/Brahman principle in Purāṇic non-dual devotion.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative upāsanā (meditative worship) through dhyāna on divine qualities—spotlessness (akalaṅkatā), independence (nirādhāratā), and freedom from affliction (nirāmayatā). In the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented frame, such guṇa-dhyāna steadies the mind toward īśvara-bhāva and inner purification.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita’s reconciliatory theology, praising the supreme Devī as “sarveśvarapriyā” implies a single sovereign divinity honored through multiple forms—supporting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava unity where Vishnu’s teaching affirms the same supreme principle revered in Shaiva traditions.