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Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 178

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

विसङ्गा भेदरहिता मनोज्ञा मधुसूदनी / महाश्रीः श्रीसमुत्पत्तिस्तमः पारे प्रतिष्ठिता

visaṅgā bhedarahitā manojñā madhusūdanī / mahāśrīḥ śrīsamutpattistamaḥ pāre pratiṣṭhitā

She is unattached and stainless, free from all division, captivating and the slayer of Madhu. She is the Great Splendour—the very source from which auspicious Śrī arises—established beyond the darkness of ignorance.

विसङ्गाdetached; without attachment
विसङ्गा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootवि + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक (वि-सङ्ग = attachmentless)
भेदरहिताdevoid of distinctions
भेदरहिता:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootभेद + रहित (कृदन्त; √हा त्यागे/रहित as adjectival)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भेदेन रहिता = free from difference)
मनोज्ञाpleasing; delightful
मनोज्ञा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमनोज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
मधुसूदनीslayer of Madhu (epithet)
मधुसूदनी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमधु + सूदनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मधुं सूदयति इति—slayer of Madhu; feminine form)
महाश्रीःgreat prosperity/glory
महाश्रीः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमहा + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती श्रीः)
श्रीसमुत्पत्तिःorigin of prosperity
श्रीसमुत्पत्तिः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootश्री + समुत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्रियाः समुत्पत्तिः)
तमःdarkness; tamas
तमः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र अधिकरणसंबन्धे विषयत्वेन
पारेon the far shore; beyond
पारे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootपार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)
प्रतिष्ठिताestablished; firmly set
प्रतिष्ठिता:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रति + √स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘स्थिता/प्रतिष्ठिता’ = established

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

M
Mahāśrī
Ś
Śrī (Lakṣmī)
M
Madhusūdana (Vishnu epithet)
T
Tamas (darkness/ignorance)

FAQs

By describing the supreme principle as “bhedarahitā” (without division) and “tamaḥ pāre pratiṣṭhitā” (established beyond darkness), the verse points to a non-dual, ignorance-transcending reality—characteristic of the Atman/Brahman beyond limiting distinctions.

The verse supports Yogic contemplation on the non-attached, non-dual reality: meditation that moves beyond tamas (ignorance) toward clarity (sattva) and direct insight—aligning with Ishvara Gita-style devotion and knowledge that culminate in absorption in the supreme, taintless principle.

By presenting the supreme power as non-dual and beyond darkness while using Vaishnava-coded epithets (Madhusūdanī/Madhusūdana), the verse fits the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the one supreme reality is praised through multiple sectarian vocabularies without contradiction.