Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 126

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

Devanagari script

ख्यातिः प्रज्ञा चितिः संवित् महाभोगीन्द्रशायिनी / विकृतिः शांसरी शास्त्री गणगन्धर्वसेविता

Transliteration

khyātiḥ prajñā citiḥ saṃvit mahābhogīndraśāyinī / vikṛtiḥ śāṃsarī śāstrī gaṇagandharvasevitā

Translation

هي الشُّهرةُ والحِكمةُ والوعيُ والإدراكُ الصافي؛ تتكئ على سيّدِ الحيّاتِ العظيم (شِيشا Śeṣa). وهي أيضًا الطبيعةُ المتحوِّلة، والسائرةُ في السَّمسارا، وسيدةُ الشاسترا، والمخدومةُ بجموعِ الغَنا (Gaṇa) والغَندهرفا (Gandharva).

Word by Word

• ख्यातिः: fame; renown
• ख्यातिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• प्रज्ञा: wisdom; insight
• प्रज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चितिः: consciousness; awareness
• चितिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संवित्: cognition; understanding
• संवित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (हलन्त-प्रातिपदिक)

• महाभोगीन्द्रशायिनी: she who lies upon the great serpent-king (Śeṣa)
• महाभोगीन्द्रशायिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभोगिन् + इन्द्र + शायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• विकृतिः: transformation; modification
• विकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शांसरी: praiseworthy; laudatory
• शांसरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शांसरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शास्त्री: teacher of scripture; learned one
• शास्त्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (शास्त्र-विद्)

• गणगन्धर्वसेविता: served by hosts of Gandharvas
• गणगन्धर्वसेविता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गण + गन्धर्व + सेविता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; (सेविता = सेव् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/कृदन्त-आधारित विशेषण)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita style section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shesha (Ananta)
• Ganas
• Gandharvas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By naming the Goddess as citi and saṃvit, the verse points to ultimate reality as conscious awareness itself—present as wisdom and cognition, and also as the power through which all experience is known.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a contemplative practice of nāma-smaraṇa and dhyāna: meditating on the Divine as prajñā (clear discernment) and saṃvit (pure awareness), aligning the mind with the witness-consciousness taught in Ishvara Gita-style instruction.

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

It blends Vaishnava imagery (reclining on Śeṣa) with Shaiva associations (service by Gaṇas), presenting one Divine Shakti honored across both streams—an explicit Kurma Purana hallmark of Shiva–Vishnu unity.