Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 164

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

Devanagari script

ऐश्वर्यवर्त्मनिलया विरक्ता गरुडासना / जयन्ती हृद्गुहा रम्या गह्विरेष्ठा गणाग्रणीः

Transliteration

aiśvaryavartmanilayā viraktā garuḍāsanā / jayantī hṛdguhā ramyā gahvireṣṭhā gaṇāgraṇīḥ

Translation

She abides in the path of divine sovereignty (aiśvarya) and is herself detached; she is seated upon Garuḍa. She is Jayantī—ever-victorious; the secret cave of the heart; the Lovely One; the most excellent among the deep and hidden realities; and the foremost leader of the divine hosts.

Word by Word

• ऐश्वर्य-वर्त्म-निलया: abode on the path of sovereignty
• ऐश्वर्य-वर्त्म-निलया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (abode on the path of sovereignty/prosperity)

• विरक्ता: detached, dispassionate
• विरक्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नामविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रक्त (कृदन्त, √रञ्ज्/√रज्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) (detached/dispassionate)

• गरुड-आसना: she whose seat is Garuḍa
• गरुड-आसना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (having Garuḍa as seat / seated on Garuḍa)

• जयन्ती: Jayantī (name)
• जयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयन्ती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (fem. nom. sg.)

• हृत्-गुहा: cave of the heart
• हृत्-गुहा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत्/हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (cave of the heart)

• रम्या: lovely
• रम्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नामविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (lovely)

• गह्विर-इष्ठा: deeply cherished
• गह्विर-इष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नामविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गह्वर/गह्विर (प्रातिपदिक) + इष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (deep and most desired/beloved)

• गण-अग्रणीः: leader of the hosts
• गण-अग्रणीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (leader of hosts)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita context (Devi-stuti/epithets as part of the teaching)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Devi (Shakti)
• Garuḍa
• Gaṇas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Goddess “hṛdguhā,” it points to the Supreme Reality as inwardly realized—present as the deepest, hidden ground within the heart, known through inner contemplation rather than external grasping.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The emphasis on dispassion (viraktā) and the heart-cave (hṛdguhā) aligns with meditative inwardness in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-ethos: cultivate vairāgya, withdraw attention into the heart, and contemplate the profound (gahvira) divine presence.

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

Though using Vaishnava imagery (Garuḍa), the verse praises the one Shakti who also leads the gaṇas—bridging Vaishnava and Shaiva worlds and reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian unity of divine principles.