Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 177

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

Devanagari script

असंख्येयाप्रमेयाख्या शून्या शुद्धकुलोद्भवा / बिन्दुनादसमुत्पत्तिः शंभुवामा शशिप्रभा

Transliteration

asaṃkhyeyāprameyākhyā śūnyā śuddhakulodbhavā / bindunādasamutpattiḥ śaṃbhuvāmā śaśiprabhā

Translation

Man nennt sie die Unzählbare und die Unermessliche; sie ist die Leere (jenseits aller Bestimmungen), aus reiner Linie hervorgegangen. Aus ihr entstehen bindu und nāda (Samenpunkt und Urklang). Sie ist Śambhus Vāmā, mondgleich strahlend.

Word by Word

• असंख्येया-अप्रमेया-आख्या: named as innumerable and immeasurable
• असंख्येया-अप्रमेया-आख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्येय + अप्रमेय + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ-समासः (असंख्येया च अप्रमेया च आख्या यस्याः/या)

• शून्या: void; empty
• शून्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुद्धकुलोद्भवा: born from a pure lineage
• शुद्धकुलोद्भवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध + कुल + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √भू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शुद्धात् कुलात् उद्भवा)

• बिन्दुनादसमुत्पत्तिः: origin/manifestation of bindu and nāda
• बिन्दुनादसमुत्पत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु + नाद + समुत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बिन्दु-नादयोः समुत्पत्तिः / बिन्दुनादात् समुत्पत्तिः)

• शंभुवामा: the left (consort) of Śambhu
• शंभुवामा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंभु + वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शंभोः वामा—left/consort of Śambhu)

• शशिप्रभा: moon-radiant
• शशिप्रभा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शशिसदृशी प्रभा यस्याः/या)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching the sages (Īśvara-gītā context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Vāmā Śakti
• Bindu
• Nāda

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the supreme power as “immeasurable” and “void-like,” the verse points to ultimate reality as beyond counting, measurement, and conceptual predicates—yet the very source from which manifestation (bindu and nāda) proceeds.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports inner yogic contemplation on bindu and nāda—classic meditative supports in Śaiva-Pāśupata and tantric-leaning yoga frameworks—where attention is refined toward the causal seed (bindu) and subtle sound (nāda) to transcend conceptuality (śūnyatā-like transcendence).

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

Spoken within the Kūrma Purāṇa’s synthetic theology, it honors Śiva through Śambhu’s Śakti while presented by Kūrma (Viṣṇu), implying a non-sectarian unity: the same supreme principle is taught through both Śaiva (Śambhu–Śakti) and Vaiṣṇava (Kūrma as teacher) frames.