Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 199

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

Devanagari script

सुषेणा चन्द्रनिलया सुकीर्तिश्छिन्नसंशया / रसज्ञा रसदा रामा लेलिहानामृतस्त्रवा

Transliteration

suṣeṇā candranilayā sukīrtiśchinnasaṃśayā / rasajñā rasadā rāmā lelihānāmṛtastravā

Translation

You are Suṣeṇā, the radiance abiding in the moon; you are noble renown, the cutter of doubt. You know the spiritual essence and bestow that essence; you are Rāmā (Śrī), ever delighting—as though your tongue were tasting and pouring forth amṛta, the nectar of immortality.

Word by Word

• सुषेणा: having a good host
• सुषेणा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + शेणा/सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सु-शेणा (having a good army/retinue)

• चन्द्रनिलया: abode of the moon
• चन्द्रनिलया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—चन्द्रस्य निलयः/निलया (abode of the moon)

• सुकीर्तिः: good fame
• सुकीर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सु-कीर्तिः (good fame)

• छिन्नसंशया: free from doubt
• छिन्नसंशया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (कृदन्त; √छिद्) + संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—छिन्नः संशयः यस्याः (whose doubt is cut off)

• रसज्ञा: knower of essence
• रसज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रसस्य ज्ञा (knower of essence/flavor)

• रसदा: giver of essence
• रसदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस + दा (प्रातिपदिक; √दा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रसं ददाति इति (giver of essence/juice)

• रामा: Rāmā
• रामा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषनाम

• लेलिहाना: licking; lapping
• लेलिहाना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लेलिहान (कृदन्त; √लिह्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले (present active participle: licking)

• अमृतस्त्रवा: nectar-flowing
• अमृतस्त्रवा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत + स्त्रव (प्रातिपदिक; √स्त्रु/स्रु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अमृतं स्त्रवति इति (flowing nectar)

Speaker

A devotee/sage reciting a stuti within the Ishvara Gita section (addressing the Supreme Lord as Śiva–Viṣṇu synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Rāmā/Śrī)
• Amṛta (nectar of immortality)
• Candra (Moon)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the inner “rasa” (essential bliss/meaning) that is both known and bestowed—dispelling doubt and granting an experience likened to amṛta (immortality).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies a yogic fruit rather than a technique: doubt-cutting clarity (viveka) and tasting “rasa” through devotion and contemplative absorption—key aims aligned with Pāśupata-oriented inner purification in the Ishvara Gita.

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

By addressing the Supreme with epithets that comfortably include Śrī/Rāmā (Vaiṣṇava resonance) alongside a doubt-destroying, nectar-bestowing Īśvara (Śaiva resonance), it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian, unified Īśvara vision.