Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

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

Devanagari script

बहुरूपा सुरूपा च विरूपा रूपवर्जिता / भक्तार्तिशमनी भव्या भवभावविनाशनी

Transliteration

bahurūpā surūpā ca virūpā rūpavarjitā / bhaktārtiśamanī bhavyā bhavabhāvavināśanī

Translation

Du bist von vielen Gestalten und zugleich von vollkommener Gestalt; du erscheinst als gestaltlos und bist doch jenseits aller Gestalt. Du stillst die Not der Bhaktas; du bist glückverheißend und gnadenvoll; du vernichtest die Neigung selbst, die Wesen an das weltliche Werden bindet.

Word by Word

• बहुरूपा: many-formed
• बहुरूपा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (बहूनि रूपाणि यस्याः/या)

• सुरूपा: beautiful-formed
• सुरूपा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं रूपं यस्याः/या)

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

• विरूपा: of distorted form; formless/ugly (as willed)
• विरूपा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (विकृतं/विपरीतं रूपं यस्याः/या)

• रूपवर्जिता: devoid of form
• रूपवर्जिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप-वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रूपेण वर्जिता = रूप-रहिता); 'वर्जित' = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• भक्तार्तिशमनी: pacifier of devotees' distress
• भक्तार्तिशमनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त-आर्ति-शमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानाम् आर्तिः) + तत्पुरुषः (आर्तेः शमनी)

• भव्या: auspicious; splendid
• भव्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवभावविनाशनी: destroyer of worldly becoming/existence
• भवभावविनाशनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव-भाव-विनाशिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भवस्य भावः = संसार-भावः) + तत्पुरुषः (तस्य विनाशनी)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as the Supreme Ishvara) — praised in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Bhakta (devotee)
• Bhava (samsaric becoming)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as simultaneously manifesting in countless forms (saguṇa) and yet transcending all form (nirguṇa), indicating that the ultimate reality is not limited by appearances but can be approached through them.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to inner transformation central to Pāśupata-oriented discipline: by devotion and contemplation on Ishvara beyond form, the practitioner uproots the bhāva (conditioning) that generates bhava (samsaric becoming), which is the yogic aim of dis-identification from worldly causality.

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

By describing one Ishvara who is both with-form and beyond-form, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where sectarian names differ but the supreme reality they indicate is one.