Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

अचिन्त्या केवलानन्त्या शिवात्मा परमात्मिका / अनादिरव्यया शुद्धा देवात्मा सर्वगाचला

Transliteration

acintyā kevalānantyā śivātmā paramātmikā / anādiravyayā śuddhā devātmā sarvagācalā

Translation

Sie ist unvorstellbar—absolut und grenzenlos; ihr eigenes Selbst ist Śiva, ihr Wesen der Paramātman. Anfangslos, unvergänglich und rein, ist sie göttlicher Natur—alles durchdringend und doch unbewegt.

Word by Word

• अचिन्त्या: unthinkable, inconceivable
• अचिन्त्या: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचिन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• केवला: sole, absolute
• केवला: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनन्त्या: endless
• अनन्त्या: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिवात्मा: having Śiva as her self
• शिवात्मा: कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आत्मा/whose self is Śiva)

• परमात्मिका: of supreme nature
• परमात्मिका: कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + आत्मिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमा च सा आत्मिका च)

• अनादिः: beginningless
• अनादिः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (इकारान्त)

• अव्यया: unchanging
• अव्यया: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुद्धा: pure
• शुद्धा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• देवात्मा: divine-souled
• देवात्मा: कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवस्य आत्मा/whose self is divine)

• सर्वगा: all-pervading
• सर्वगा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अचला: immovable, steadfast
• अचला: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Shiva
• Paramatman
• Ishvara Gita
• Pashupata (Shaiva) doctrine

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It describes the Supreme as acintyā (beyond thought), kevalā (non-dual), anantā (infinite), and as Paramātman itself—beginningless, imperishable, and perfectly pure—indicating a transcendent, all-pervading consciousness that is also unshaken (acalā).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-style contemplation on the Lord as the steady, all-pervading, beginningless Self—encouraging nirvikalpa-like absorption (fixing the mind on the unmoving acalā reality) and jñāna-yoga discernment of the imperishable avyayā principle beyond conceptual thought (acintyā).

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

Within the Ishvara Gita frame spoken by Lord Kūrma, the Supreme is named through Śiva-language (śivātmā) while taught by Vishnu—presenting a synthesis where Śiva signifies the highest Paramātman rather than a sectarian divide.