Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

सैषा माहेश्वरी देवी शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी / शिवा सती हैमवती सुरासुरनमस्कृता

Transliteration

saiṣā māheśvarī devī śaṅkarārdhaśarīriṇī / śivā satī haimavatī surāsuranamaskṛtā

Translation

She indeed is the Maheshvarī Goddess, sharing half the body of Śaṅkara. She is Śiva’s auspicious Power—Satī, Haimavatī (Pārvatī), bowed to by gods and asuras alike.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एषा: this (same one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• माहेश्वरी: Maheśvara’s (divine)
• माहेश्वरी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (belonging to Maheśvara)

• देवी: goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी: having half of Śaṅkara as her body
• शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्कर + अर्ध + शरीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः शङ्करस्य अर्धं शरीरं यस्याः/या (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/बहुपद-समास-प्रयोग)

• शिवा: Śivā
• शिवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषण-रूपेण

• सती: Satī
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• हैमवती: daughter of Himavat
• हैमवती: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘हिमवत्’-सम्बन्धिनी

• सुरासुरनमस्कृता: revered by gods and demons
• सुरासुरनमस्कृता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर + असुर + नमस्कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘नमस्कृता’; समासः सुराः+असुराः (द्वन्द्व) + नमस्कृता (तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्ध)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvari Devi
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Sati
• Haimavati (Parvati)
• Devas
• Asuras

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Devi as inseparable from Shankara (half his body), the verse points to non-separateness (abheda): ultimate reality is one, appearing as Shiva–Shakti for the purposes of creation, grace, and liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse functions as dhyāna-stuti (meditative praise): contemplating Devi as Maheshvari and inseparable from Shiva supports one-pointed devotion (ekāgratā) and aligns with Pāśupata-style theism where grace arises through reverent remembrance and worship.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita frame (spoken by Lord Kurma), Vishnu praises Shiva’s Shakti, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: devotion to Shiva–Shakti is not opposed to Vishnu, but harmonized as one sacred theistic path.