Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 92

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

Devanagari script

अनादिमायसंभिन्ना त्रितत्त्वा प्रकृतिर्गुहा / महामायासमुत्पन्ना तामसी पौरुषी ध्रुवा

Transliteration

anādimāyasaṃbhinnā tritattvā prakṛtirguhā / mahāmāyāsamutpannā tāmasī pauruṣī dhruvā

Translation

Prakṛti—the hidden, cave-like ground of manifestation—is interwoven with beginningless Māyā and constituted of the three principles. Born of the Great Māyā, she is tamasic in nature, bound to Puruṣa, and enduring in her function.

Word by Word

• अनादिमायासंभिन्ना: mingled with beginningless māyā
• अनादिमायासंभिन्ना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि + माया + संभिन्न (प्रातिपदिक; भिद्-धातु क्त, सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अनाद्या मायया संभिन्ना)

• त्रितत्त्वा: consisting of three principles
• त्रितत्त्वा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि तत्त्वानि यस्याः)

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti, nature
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गुहा: cave; hidden (one)
• गुहा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-विशेषणार्थे (as appositional noun)

• महामायासमुत्पन्ना: arisen from great māyā
• महामायासमुत्पन्ना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामाया + समुत्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक; पद्/पत्-धातु क्त, समुत्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महामायया समुत्पन्ना)

• तामसी: tāmasic, of darkness/inertia
• तामसी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तमस्-सम्बन्धिनी (feminine nominative singular)

• पौरुषी: pertaining to Puruṣa
• पौरुषी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौरुषी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुरुष-सम्बन्धिनी

• ध्रुवा: steady, fixed
• ध्रुवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maya
• Mahāmāyā
• Prakṛti
• Puruṣa
• Tamas
• Tattva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the witnessing principle (Puruṣa/Ātman) from Prakṛti: Prakṛti is a beginningless, Māyā-entangled power that manifests the world, while the Self is implied as the stable reference to which Prakṛti is ‘connected’ (pauruṣī) yet distinct.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Sāṃkhya-Yoga discernment (viveka): meditation and inquiry separate Puruṣa from Prakṛti/Māyā by recognizing the guṇa-made, tamasic obscuration and thereby turning awareness back to the witnessing Self—an underpinning for Pāśupata-oriented liberation in the Ishvara Gita.

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

By presenting a shared metaphysical framework (Māyā–Prakṛti–Puruṣa discernment) taught in the Ishvara Gita, it aligns Shaiva and Vaishnava soteriology: the same Supreme Lord (Ishvara) reveals the structure of bondage (Māyā/guṇas) and the means of release (knowledge and Yoga).