Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

शक्तिशक्तिमतोर्भेदं वदन्ति परमार्थतः / अभेदं चानुपश्यन्ति योगिनस्तत्त्वचिन्तकाः

Transliteration

śaktiśaktimatorbhedaṃ vadanti paramārthataḥ / abhedaṃ cānupaśyanti yoginastattvacintakāḥ

Translation

في الحقيقة القصوى يُقال بوجود تمييز بين شاكتي (القوة الإلهية) وشاكتي مات (حامل القوة)، غير أن اليوغيين، المتأملين في الحقيقة، يشهدون أيضًا عدمَ الاختلاف بينهما مباشرةً.

Word by Word

• शक्ति-शक्तिमतोः: of Śakti and the possessor of Śakti
• शक्ति-शक्तिमतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti + śakti-mat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; षष्ठी/सप्तमी? here: षष्ठी (6) द्विवचन (genitive dual): शक्तेः च शक्तिमतः च (of Śakti and of the power-possessor)

• भेदम्: difference
• भेदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• वदन्ति: they say
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमार्थतः: in ultimate truth
• परमार्थतः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: parama-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): परमार्थतः = from the highest truth/ultimately

• अभेदम्: non-difference
• अभेदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अनुपश्यन्ति: they perceive/see
• अनुपश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu√paś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• योगिनः: yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• तत्त्वचिन्तकाः: contemplators of truth
• तत्त्वचिन्तकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva + cintaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तत्त्वस्य चिन्तकाः (thinkers of reality)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching the Ishvara Gita to King Indradyumna (instructional discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śakti
• Śaktimat
• Yogins
• Īśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames ultimate reality as a single Īśvara-tattva where power (Śakti) and the possessor of power (Śaktimat) are inseparable in realization, even if conceptually distinguished for teaching.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to tattva-cintana (contemplation of reality) leading to direct anupaśyanti—yogic seeing—where apparent dualities like Śakti and Īśvara are known as one in samyag-darśana (right realization).

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

By teaching unity-in-truth through the Śakti–Śaktimat model, the Kurma Purana supports a synthetic theology in which sectarian forms (Śiva/Viṣṇu as Īśvara) are understood as non-different at the highest level.