Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 181

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

Devanagari script

शास्त्रयोनिः क्रियामूर्तिश्चतुर्वर्गप्रदर्शिका / नारायणी नरोद्भूतिः कौमुदी लिङ्गधारिणी

Transliteration

śāstrayoniḥ kriyāmūrtiścaturvargapradarśikā / nārāyaṇī narodbhūtiḥ kaumudī liṅgadhāriṇī

Translation

Sie ist der Urquell der Śāstra, die verkörperte Gestalt heiligen Handelns und die Offenbarerinnen der vier Lebensziele des Menschen. Sie ist Nārāyaṇī; sie ist die Kraft, die im Menschsein aufsteigt; sie ist Kaumudī, strahlend wie Mondlicht; und sie ist die Trägerin des Liṅga.

Word by Word

• śāstra-yoniḥ: whose source is the scriptures
• śāstra-yoniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘शास्त्रस्य योनिः’

• kriyā-mūrtiḥ: embodiment of ritual/action
• kriyā-mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘क्रियायाः मूर्तिः’

• catur-varga-pradarśikā: revealer of the four aims of life
• catur-varga-pradarśikā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + varga (प्रातिपदिक) + pradarśikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘चतुर्वर्गस्य प्रदर्शिका’ (one who shows the four aims)

• nārāyaṇī: Nārāyaṇī
• nārāyaṇī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper epithet)

• nara-udbhūtiḥ: origin/source of men
• nara-udbhūtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘नरस्य उद्भूतिः’

• kaumudī: Kaumudī; moonlight-like
• kaumudī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaumudī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषण (moonlight-like; also a name)

• liṅga-dhāriṇī: bearer of the emblem/mark
• liṅga-dhāriṇī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘लिङ्गं धारयति’ (bearer of the emblem/mark)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayani
• Narayana
• Linga (Shiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying the Goddess as the source of śāstra and the revealer of mokṣa alongside dharma, artha, and kāma, the verse implies that realization of the Supreme is guided through revealed wisdom and disciplined practice, with Śakti as the enabling power behind spiritual knowledge and liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The phrase “kriyāmūrti” stresses kriyā—regulated discipline such as worship, mantra, and vow-based practice—central to the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning spirituality, where right action and inner devotion together disclose the puruṣārthas culminating in mokṣa.

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

Calling her “Nārāyaṇī” (Viṣṇu’s Śakti) and also “liṅgadhāriṇī” (connected to Śiva’s liṅga) presents a synthesis: one Divine Power serves both traditions, expressing the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaishnava unity.