Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

सेयं करोति सकलं तस्याः कार्यमिदं जगत् / न कार्यं नापि करणमीश्वरस्येति सूरयः

Transliteration

seyaṃ karoti sakalaṃ tasyāḥ kāryamidaṃ jagat / na kāryaṃ nāpi karaṇamīśvarasyeti sūrayaḥ

Translation

She, the Divine Power, accomplishes everything; this entire universe is her effect. The wise declare that Īśvara has no task to be done, nor any instrument by which it is done.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• iyam: this (very one)
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• karoti: does, makes
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sakalaṃ: all, the whole (everything)
• sakalaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• kāryam: effect, product, work
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय/सम्बन्ध (predicate nominative)

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (जगत्)

• jagat: world, universe
• jagat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• kāryam: work/effect
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अस्ति इति अध्याहारः)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• karaṇam: instrument, means
• karaṇam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अस्ति इति अध्याहारः)

• īśvarasya: of the Lord
• īśvarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-marker (वाक्यार्थ-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• sūrayaḥ: sages, wise ones
• sūrayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Shakti
• Jagat

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Īśvara as intrinsically actionless and without instruments, implying a transcendent Self beyond doership, while cosmic activity belongs to Śakti and appears as the universe.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-oriented contemplation on non-doership (akartṛtva): meditation discriminates between the actionless Lord and the workings of Śakti, stabilizing the yogin in witness-consciousness and devotion to Īśvara.

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

By speaking of a single Īśvara who is beyond action while Śakti manifests the cosmos, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva-Vishnu are understood through one Lordhood (Īśvaratva) with one divine power.