Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

सैषा धात्री विधात्री च परमानन्दमिच्छताम् / संसारतापानखिलान् निहन्तीश्वरसंश्रया

Transliteration

saiṣā dhātrī vidhātrī ca paramānandamicchatām / saṃsāratāpānakhilān nihantīśvarasaṃśrayā

Translation

This teaching and discipline is both sustainer and ordainer; for those who seek supreme bliss, it destroys all the burnings of saṃsāra—being grounded in refuge in the Lord, Īśvara.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• एषा: this (very one)
• एषा: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• धात्री: supporter, sustainer
• धात्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• विधात्री: creator, ordainer
• विधात्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• परम-आनन्दम्: supreme bliss
• परम-आनन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमः आनन्दः)

• इच्छताम्: of those desiring
• इच्छताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √इष् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (genitive); बहुवचन

• संसार-तापान्: the sufferings of worldly existence
• संसार-तापान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (संसारस्य तापाः)

• अखिलान्: all, entire
• अखिलान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन

• निहन्ती: destroying, removing
• निहन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √हन् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्/विधेय (predicate participle)

• ईश्वर-संश्रया: having refuge in the Lord
• ईश्वर-संश्रया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ईश्वरस्य संश्रयः यस्याः सा)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to liberation through īśvara-saṃśraya (refuge in the Lord): when consciousness is anchored in the Supreme, the “heats” of saṃsāra are extinguished and supreme bliss is realized—implying the Self’s fulfillment in the Highest Reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes īśvara-saṃśraya as a core sādhanā: steady surrender, devotion, and contemplative reliance on Īśvara as the regulating principle—aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented discipline that removes saṃsāric afflictions.

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

By centering liberation on refuge in Īśvara, it supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the saving Lord is the one Supreme Reality (Īśvara) revered through both Shaiva and Vaishnava lenses in the Ishvara Gita.