Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

व्यापिनी चानवच्छिन्ना प्रधानानुप्रवेशिनी / क्षेत्रज्ञशक्तिरव्यक्तलक्षणा मलवर्जिता

Transliteration

vyāpinī cānavacchinnā pradhānānupraveśinī / kṣetrajñaśaktiravyaktalakṣaṇā malavarjitā

Translation

هي سارية في كل شيء بلا انقطاع؛ تنفذ إلى البرادهانا (الطبيعة الأولى). وهي شاكتي الكشيتراجنا، العارف بحقل الوجود؛ موصوفة بكونها غير متجلّية (أفيَكتا)، منزّهة عن كل دنس.

Word by Word

• व्यापिनी: all-pervading
• व्यापिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine nominative singular adjective)

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

• अनवच्छिन्ना: uninterrupted, unbroken
• अनवच्छिन्ना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनवच्छिन्न (प्रातिपदिक; अवच्छिद्-धातु से क्त/क्तिन्-आधारित विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण (feminine nominative singular; ‘un-’ prefixed)

• प्रधान: of Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधान: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद-सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)

• अनुप्रवेशिनी: entering into, pervading within
• अनुप्रवेशिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-प्रवेशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine nominative singular)

• क्षेत्रज्ञशक्तिः: the power of the knower of the field (kṣetrajña)
• क्षेत्रज्ञशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रज्ञ + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रज्ञस्य शक्तिः)

• अव्यक्तलक्षणा: having the mark of the unmanifest
• अव्यक्तलक्षणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (अव्यक्तं लक्षणं यस्याः / अव्यक्तस्य लक्षणा)

• मलवर्जिता: free from impurity
• मलवर्जिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मल + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ज्-धातु क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मलैः वर्जिता/मलवर्जिता)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrajña
• Pradhāna
• Śakti
• Avyakta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents consciousness (Kṣetrajña) as possessing an intrinsic Śakti that is all-pervading, unbroken, and untouched by impurity—indicating a pure, non-material principle that nevertheless pervades and empowers Nature (Pradhāna).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-Gita style contemplation: meditate on the pure, untainted Śakti of the indwelling Knower (Kṣetrajña) that pervades the body-field and also penetrates Pradhāna—helping the yogin discriminate the pure seer-power from material modifications.

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

By describing a single, stainless, all-pervading divine Śakti underlying both consciousness and cosmic Nature, the teaching aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme principle taught by Vishnu (Kurma) is compatible with Shaiva-Pashupata metaphysics.