Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 149

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

Devanagari script

वेदशक्तिर्वेदमाता वेदविद्याप्रकाशिनी / योगेश्वरेश्वरी माता महाशक्तिर्मनोमयी

Transliteration

vedaśaktirvedamātā vedavidyāprakāśinī / yogeśvareśvarī mātā mahāśaktirmanomayī

Translation

Sie ist die Śakti in den Veden, die Mutter der Veden und die Erleuchterin vedischen Wissens. Sie ist die Mutter, die souveräne Göttin der Herren des Yoga—Mahāśakti selbst—die den Geist durchdringt und gestaltet.

Word by Word

• वेद-शक्तिः: power of the Veda
• वेद-शक्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘वेदस्य शक्तिः’

• वेद-माता: mother of the Veda
• वेद-माता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + माता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘वेदस्य माता’

• वेद-विद्या-प्रकाशिनी: illuminator of Vedic knowledge
• वेद-विद्या-प्रकाशिनी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘वेदविद्यां प्रकाशयति’ (illumines Vedic knowledge)

• योग-ईश्वर-ईश्वरी: sovereign goddess of the Lord of Yoga
• योग-ईश्वर-ईश्वरी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘योगेश्वरस्य ईश्वरी’ (goddess/sovereign of the Lord of Yoga)

• माता: mother
• माता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महा-शक्तिः: great power
• महा-शक्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (कर्मधारय) — ‘महती शक्तिः’

• मनः-मयी: made of mind; mental in nature
• मनः-मयी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘मनःमयी’ (consisting of mind)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Shakti
• Yogeshvara
• Mahashakti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying the highest reality with Mahāśakti who illumines Vedic wisdom and pervades the mind, the verse points to a supreme, all-pervading consciousness-power that is both the source of revelation (Veda) and the inner principle guiding cognition.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a contemplative practice of meditating on the indwelling Shakti as the ruler of yogins (yogeśvareśvarī) and as manomayī—recognizing the mind as pervaded and governed by the supreme power, aligning inner awareness with Vedic insight (jñāna) and yogic mastery.

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

By centering the teaching on the supreme Shakti who is sovereign over yogic lords and the source of Vedic revelation, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: the ultimate principle transcends sectarian boundaries and is shared across Shaiva and Vaishnava frames through Ishvara-centered yoga.