Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 173

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

Devanagari script

स्थानेश्वरी निरानन्दा त्रिशूलवरधारिणी / अशेषदेवतामूर्तिर्देवता वरदेवता / गणाम्बिका गिरेः पुत्री निशुम्भविनिपातिनी

Transliteration

sthāneśvarī nirānandā triśūlavaradhāriṇī / aśeṣadevatāmūrtirdevatā varadevatā / gaṇāmbikā gireḥ putrī niśumbhavinipātinī

Translation

هي سْثانيشْفَري (Sthāneśvarī)، متجاوزةٌ لبهجةٍ مألوفة؛ حاملةُ الرمحِ الثلاثي (تريشولا) ويدُها تمنحُ النِّعَم. هي تجسيدُ جميعِ الآلهة—الديفي العُظمى، الساميةُ المُعطيةُ للبركات. وهي غَنامبيكا، ابنةُ الجبل، قاتلةُ نيشومبها.

Word by Word

• sthāna-īśvarī: mistress/lady of the abode
• sthāna-īśvarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्थानस्य ईश्वरी)

• nirānandā: without (ordinary) joy; beyond pleasure
• nirānandā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir- (उपसर्ग) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-प्रत्ययार्थः—‘without’

• triśūla-vara-dhāriṇī: bearer of the trident and the boon (bestowing power)
• triśūla-vara-dhāriṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: triśūla (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāriṇī (कृदन्त; √dhṛ धारणे, णिनि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—‘dhāriṇī’ (agent noun); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रिशूलं वरं च धारयति)

• aśeṣa-devatā-mūrtiḥ: the embodiment of all deities
• aśeṣa-devatā-mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अशेषाणां देवतानां मूर्तिः)

• devatā: goddess; deity
• devatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन

• vara-devatā: the excellent goddess
• vara-devatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (वरा देवता)

• gaṇa-ambikā: mother of the gaṇas
• gaṇa-ambikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गणानाम् अम्बिका)

• gireḥ: of the mountain
• gireḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), एकवचन; ‘of the mountain’ (Himālaya)

• putrī: daughter
• putrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन

• niśumbha-vinipātinī: slayer of Niśumbha
• niśumbha-vinipātinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśumbha (प्रातिपदिक) + vinipātinī (कृदन्त; √pat पतने, वि+नि, णिनि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—‘vinipātinī’ (agent noun ‘one who causes to fall/slays’); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निशुम्भं विनिपातयति)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) narrating/teaching within the Ishvara-gita framework, incorporating Devi-stuti as part of the integrated Shaiva-Vaishnava vision

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Sthāneśvarī
• Ambikā (Gaṇāmbikā)
• Himālaya (Giri)
• Niśumbha
• Trishula (Śiva’s emblem)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Goddess the “embodiment of all deities” (aśeṣa-devatā-mūrti), the verse points to a single supreme Reality that manifests as many divine forms—an Ishvara-centered non-dual vision where the One appears as the many.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself is a stuti used as devotional concentration (bhakti-yukta dhyāna): meditating on the Goddess as the all-deity form and as the boon-giver aligns the practitioner’s mind toward īśvara-prāṇidhāna, a key orientation compatible with Pāśupata-style surrender and discipline.

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

The Goddess bears Śiva’s trident and is praised within the Kurma/Vishnu teaching context, signaling the Purana’s synthesis: the same supreme divinity is honored through Śaiva symbols and Vaiṣṇava narration, emphasizing unity rather than sectarian separation.