Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 180

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

Devanagari script

शिवाख्या चित्तनिलया शिवज्ञानस्वरूपिणी / दैत्यदानवनिर्मात्री काश्यपी कालकल्पिका

Transliteration

śivākhyā cittanilayā śivajñānasvarūpiṇī / daityadānavanirmātrī kāśyapī kālakalpikā

Translation

তিনি ‘শিবা’ নামে খ্যাত; তিনি চিত্তে নিবাস করেন; তিনি শিব-জ্ঞানেরই স্বরূপ। তিনি দৈত্য-দানবদের জননী; তিনি কাশ্যপী, এবং কাল ও কল্পের নির্মাণকারী শক্তি।

Word by Word

• शिवाख्या: named ‘Śiva’
• शिवाख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिव इति आख्या यस्याः/या)

• चित्तनिलया: dwelling in consciousness/mind
• चित्तनिलया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्त + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चित्ते निलयः यस्याः/या)

• शिवज्ञानस्वरूपिणी: whose nature is Śiva-knowledge
• शिवज्ञानस्वरूपिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + ज्ञान + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवज्ञानं स्वरूपं यस्याः/या)

• दैत्यदानवनिर्मात्री: creator/mother of Daityas and Dānavas
• दैत्यदानवनिर्मात्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य + दानव + निर्मातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √मा निर्माणे with निर्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (दैत्याः च दानवाः च) + तत्पुरुषः (तेषां निर्मात्री)

• काश्यपी: Kāśyapī (related to Kaśyapa)
• काश्यपी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; काश्यपस्य अपत्यं/सम्बन्धिनी (patronymic/relational feminine)

• कालकल्पिका: time-ordaining; maker of time-cycles
• कालकल्पिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + कल्पिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कालं कल्पयति/कालस्य कल्पिका—time-ordaining)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śivā (Goddess/Śakti)
• Śiva
• Daityas
• Dānavas
• Kaśyapa
• Kāla (Time)
• Kalpa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By locating the Goddess in citta itself and identifying her with śiva-jñāna, the verse points to the supreme principle as inner consciousness and liberating knowledge rather than merely an external deity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a Yogic approach of inward contemplation—recognizing the divine as the ground of citta—and cultivating śiva-jñāna (transformative insight), a key orientation for Pāśupata-leaning practice within the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita.

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

Spoken by Lord Kūrma, it praises Śivā/Śakti as the very form of Śiva-knowledge, reflecting the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Vishnu teaches reverence for Śiva-tattva as the same supreme reality expressed through different divine forms.