Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 160

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

Devanagari script

कालरात्रिर्महावेगा वीरभद्रप्रिया हिता / भद्रकाली जगन्माता भक्तानां भद्रदायिनी

Transliteration

kālarātrirmahāvegā vīrabhadrapriyā hitā / bhadrakālī jaganmātā bhaktānāṃ bhadradāyinī

Translation

هي كَالَرَاتْرِي، سريعةٌ بقوةٍ لا تُقاوَم؛ مُحسِنةٌ محبوبةٌ لدى ڤِيرَبْهَدْرَا. وهي بْهَدْرَكَالِي، أمُّ الكون، تُفيضُ اليُمنَ على عُبّادها.

Word by Word

• कालरात्रिः: Kālarātri (the dark night)
• कालरात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (fem. nom. sg.); कर्मधारयः (काला रात्रिः)

• महावेगा: of great speed/force
• महावेगा: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + वेगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारयः (महान् वेगः यस्याः)

• वीरभद्रप्रिया: beloved of Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीरभद्र + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वीरभद्रस्य प्रिया)

• हिता: beneficial; kind
• हिता: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धा (धातु) + क्त, ‘हित’ = placed/beneficial)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (beneficial/wholesome)

• भद्रकाली: Bhadrakālī
• भद्रकाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र + काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (भद्रा काली)

• जगत्-माता: mother of the world
• जगत्-माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + माता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः माता)

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (masc. gen. pl.)

• भद्रदायिनी: bestower of auspiciousness
• भद्रदायिनी: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र + दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (भद्रं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kālarātri
• Vīrabhadra
• Bhadrakālī
• Jagad-mātā (Mother of the Universe)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising the Goddess as Jagad-mātā who grants bhadra (welfare) to devotees, the verse frames the Supreme as a compassionate, world-sustaining power accessible through devotion—Atman realized as the auspicious ground of all.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports bhakti-oriented contemplation (upāsanā) within the Ishvara Gita: steady remembrance of the Devi’s names and forms (nāma-smaraṇa and dhyāna) as a purifying practice aligned with Pāśupata-style discipline and inner restraint.

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

Spoken in the Ishvara Gita setting, it honors a distinctly Śaiva symbol (Vīrabhadra) while being taught by Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu), modeling the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian unity where Śiva–Śakti devotion harmonizes with Vaiṣṇava revelation.