Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 197

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

Devanagari script

श्रीफला श्रीमती श्रीशा श्रीनिवासा शिवप्रिया / श्रीधरा श्रीकरी कल्या श्रीधरार्धशरीरिणी

Transliteration

śrīphalā śrīmatī śrīśā śrīnivāsā śivapriyā / śrīdharā śrīkarī kalyā śrīdharārdhaśarīriṇī

Translation

هي مُعطيةُ الثمراتِ المباركة؛ المجيدةُ السعيدة؛ سيّدةُ الرخاء؛ مسكنُ Śrī ذاته؛ محبوبةُ Śiva. هي حاملةُ Śrī، مانحةُ الازدهار، المُحسِنةُ الميمونة، وهي التي جسدُها نصفُ جسدِ Śrīdhara (الربّ الحامل لـŚrī).

Word by Word

• श्रीफला: bearing the fruit of prosperity
• श्रीफला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री + फला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—श्रियः फलम्/फलदायिनी इति (whose fruit is prosperity / bestowing prosperity)

• श्रीमती: fortunate; illustrious
• श्रीमती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessed of śrī)

• श्रीशा: mistress of prosperity
• श्रीशा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री + ईशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—श्रियाः ईशा (mistress of prosperity)

• श्रीनिवासा: abode of prosperity
• श्रीनिवासा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री + निवासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—श्रियाः निवासः/निवासिनी (abode of śrī)

• शिवप्रिया: beloved of Śiva
• शिवप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—शिवस्य प्रिया (beloved of Śiva)

• श्रीधरा: bearer of prosperity
• श्रीधरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री + धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—श्रियं धरती इति (bearer of śrī)

• श्रीकरी: producer of prosperity
• श्रीकरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री + करिन्/करी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—श्रियं करोति इति (maker of prosperity)

• कल्या: auspicious; beautiful
• कल्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रीधरार्धशरीरिणी: she whose body is half of Śrīdhara
• श्रीधरार्धशरीरिणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीधर + अर्ध + शरीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—श्रीधरस्य अर्धं शरीरं यस्याः (having half the body of Śrīdhara/Viṣṇu)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• Śiva
• Śrīdhara (Vishnu as bearer of Śrī)

More Details (5 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Śrī as the very locus and power of auspiciousness (śrīnivāsā, śrīkarī) and as inseparable from the Lord (śrīdharārdhaśarīriṇī), the verse points to a non-dual divine reality where consciousness (Īśvara) and power (Śakti/Śrī) are one in function and essence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse functions as nāma-smaraṇa and stotra-japa: contemplative repetition of divine epithets to steady the mind, cultivate sattva, and orient devotion toward Īśvara-Śakti unity—an inner support aligned with the Ishvara Gita’s yoga of devotion and disciplined contemplation.

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

Śrī is called “beloved of Śiva” while also being inseparably connected with Śrīdhara (Vishnu), expressing the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the one supreme reality is honored through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava forms without contradiction.