Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 79
Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction
काष्ठा सर्वान्तरस्था च चिच्छक्तिरतिलालसा / नन्दा सर्वात्मिका विद्या ज्योतीरूपामृताक्षरा
kāṣṭhā sarvāntarasthā ca cicchaktiratilālasā / nandā sarvātmikā vidyā jyotīrūpāmṛtākṣarā
She is Kāṣṭhā, abiding within all; she is cicchakti, the power of Consciousness, intensely eager to manifest. She is Nandā, the all-pervading Vidyā that is the Self of all; she is of the form of Light, and her syllables are immortal nectar.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It portrays the supreme principle as the inner indweller of all (sarvāntarasthā) and as all-souled knowledge (sarvātmikā vidyā), indicating a non-dual Self that shines as consciousness and light.
The verse supports Ishvara Gita meditation on the indwelling luminous consciousness (jyotīrūpā) and mantra-contemplation on imperishable sacred sound (amṛtākṣarā), aligning with Pashupata-oriented inner worship and jñāna-yoga.
By presenting a single supreme Consciousness-Power as the Self within all, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: the highest reality honored as Ishvara can be approached through both Shaiva and Vaishnava frames without contradiction.