Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

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

Devanagari script

नृसिंही दैत्यमथनी शङ्खचक्रगदाधरा / संकर्षणसमुत्पत्तिरम्बिकापादसंश्रया

Transliteration

nṛsiṃhī daityamathanī śaṅkhacakragadādharā / saṃkarṣaṇasamutpattirambikāpādasaṃśrayā

Translation

She is Narasiṃhī, the crusher of the demons, bearing the conch, discus, and mace. She is said to arise from Saṅkarṣaṇa, and she abides in refuge at the feet of Ambikā, the Supreme Mother.

Word by Word

• नृ-सिंही: (she who is) Narasiṃhī
• नृ-सिंही: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नृसिंहसम्बद्धा/नृसिंहरूपा

• दैत्य-मथनी: destroyer of demons
• दैत्य-मथनी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मथनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (crusher of demons)

• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धरा: bearing conch, discus, and mace
• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धरा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (bearer of conch, discus, mace)

• संकर्षण-समुत्पत्तिः: originating from Saṃkarṣaṇa
• संकर्षण-समुत्पत्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + समुत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (origin from Saṃkarṣaṇa)

• अम्बिका-पाद-संश्रया: seeking refuge at Ambikā’s feet
• अम्बिका-पाद-संश्रया: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (taking refuge at Ambikā’s feet)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu), continuing the Ishvara Gita-style instruction as a Devi-stuti embedded in the teaching

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narasiṃhī
• Daityas
• Śaṅkha (conch)
• Cakra (discus)
• Gadā (mace)
• Saṅkarṣaṇa
• Ambikā

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Narasiṃhī as both Vaishnava-iconic (conch–discus–mace) and rooted in Ambikā, the verse points to one supreme Reality expressing itself through multiple divine powers (śakti) without contradiction—an Ishvara-centric non-dual vision.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports iṣṭa-devatā upāsanā: concentrating the mind on a defined form (with attributes like śaṅkha–cakra–gadā) while recognizing its source in the higher Shakti (Ambikā). This aligns with Pashupata-oriented devotion where focused contemplation matures into insight into the one Lord with power (śaktimān).

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

Though Vaishnava emblems are explicit, the final grounding “at Ambikā’s feet” reflects the Purana’s synthesis: sectarian forms are harmonized within a single supreme divinity and its power—supporting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava unity theme.