Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 189

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

Devanagari script

ऐन्द्री त्रैलोक्यनमिता वैष्णवी परमेश्वरी / प्रद्युम्नदयिता दान्ता युग्मदृष्टिस्त्रिलोचना

Transliteration

aindrī trailokyanamitā vaiṣṇavī parameśvarī / pradyumnadayitā dāntā yugmadṛṣṭistrilocanā

Translation

هي أَيْنْدْرِي (Aindrī)، قوة إندرا التي تنحني لها العوالم الثلاثة؛ وهي فايشنَفِي (Vaiṣṇavī)، السيّدة العليا. محبوبة براديومنَ (Pradyumna)، متزنة ضابطة للنفس؛ تنظر برؤية مزدوجة ولها ثلاث عيون.

Word by Word

• aindrī: Indrāṇī-like; of Indra
• aindrī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aindrī (प्रातिपदिक; from indra)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धित (इन्द्रसम्बन्धिनी)

• trailokya-namitā: bowed to by the three worlds
• trailokya-namitā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trailokya (प्रातिपदिक) + namitā (कृदन्त; √nam नम् ‘to bow’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘त्रैलोक्येन नमिता’ ; कृदन्तः क्त (past passive participle)

• vaiṣṇavī: Vaiṣṇavī; of Viṣṇu
• vaiṣṇavī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇavī (प्रातिपदिक; from viṣṇu)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धित (विष्णुसम्बन्धिनी)

• parameśvarī: the supreme goddess/lady
• parameśvarī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• pradyumna-dayitā: beloved of Pradyumna
• pradyumna-dayitā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradyumna (प्रातिपदिक) + dayitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘प्रद्युम्नस्य दयिता’

• dāntā: self-controlled, restrained
• dāntā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dānta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √dam दम ‘to tame’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्तः क्त (tamed/self-controlled)

• yugma-dṛṣṭiḥ: having paired vision
• yugma-dṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yugma (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘युग्मा दृष्टीः/दृष्टिः’ (paired vision)

• tri-locanā: three-eyed (f.)
• tri-locanā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + locanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘त्रीणि लोचनानि यस्याः’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (as narrator/teacher in the Ishvara Gita context, presenting a Devī-stuti aligned with Shaiva–Vaishnava unity)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Aindrī
• Vaiṣṇavī
• Parameśvarī
• Pradyumna

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By naming the Goddess as Parameśvarī and as the unified śakti behind multiple divine functions (Aindrī, Vaiṣṇavī), the verse implies one supreme reality manifesting through diverse powers—an integrative, non-sectarian vision consistent with the Ishvara Gita’s theism.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key yogic marker is dāntā—sense-control and inner discipline—foundational for Pāśupata-aligned practice; the “three-eyed” epithet also signals higher insight (jñāna-dṛṣṭi) cultivated through meditation and restraint.

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

Calling her Vaiṣṇavī while also attributing the three-eyed motif (often Shaiva) presents a shared symbolic field: one supreme śakti supports both Vaiṣṇava and Shaiva theologies, reinforcing the Kurma Purana’s unity-of-Iśvara approach.