Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

शुभं निरञ्जनं शुद्धं निर्गुणं द्वैतवर्जितम् / आत्मोपलब्धिविषयं देव्यास्तत् परमं पदम्

Transliteration

śubhaṃ nirañjanaṃ śuddhaṃ nirguṇaṃ dvaitavarjitam / ātmopalabdhiviṣayaṃ devyāstat paramaṃ padam

Translation

Auspicious, stainless, pure, beyond the guṇas and free of all duality—this is Devī’s supreme state, knowable only through direct realization of the Self (Ātman).

Word by Word

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• निरञ्जनम्: stainless, untainted
• निरञ्जनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; निः-उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• निर्गुणम्: without qualities (guṇas)
• निर्गुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• द्वैत-वर्जितम्: devoid of duality
• द्वैत-वर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वैत (प्रातिपदिक) + √वृज्/√वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्वैतं वर्जितम् = 'devoid of duality'); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त

• आत्म-उपलब्धि-विषयम्: object/field of self-realization
• आत्म-उपलब्धि-विषयम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + उपलब्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (आत्मनः उपलब्धिः यस्य/यत्र सः विषयः)

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• पदम्: state, abode
• पदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Atman
• Nirguna Brahman

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the highest reality as nirguṇa and free from duality, accessible not by external objects but through direct ātma-upalabdhi (immediate Self-realization).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the culmination of Yoga as non-dual Self-realization—purification and inward contemplation leading to direct insight (ātma-anubhava), aligning with the Ishvara Gita’s Pashupata-leaning discipline of inner realization over ritualism alone.

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

By describing the supreme state as nirguṇa and non-dual, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the highest truth transcends sectarian difference, allowing Shaiva-Devī and Vaishnava language to converge in one non-dual reality.