Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 64

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

तस्य सा परमा माया प्रकृतिस्त्रिगुणात्मिका / प्रोच्यते मुनिर्भिशक्तिर्जगद्योनिः सनातनी

Transliteration

tasya sā paramā māyā prakṛtistriguṇātmikā / procyate munirbhiśaktirjagadyoniḥ sanātanī

Translation

His supreme Māyā—namely Prakṛti, constituted of the three guṇas—is declared by the sages to be the eternal Power (Śakti), the womb from which the universe arises.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (gen), एकवचन

• सा: she; that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• माया: Māyā; illusion/power
• माया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti; primordial nature
• प्रकृतिः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रि-गुण-आत्मिका: having the three guṇas as its nature
• त्रि-गुण-आत्मिका: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘त्रयः गुणाः यस्याः आत्मा/स्वभावः’

• प्रोच्यते: is called; is said
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) with उपसर्ग प्र-
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘प्र + उच्यते’

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (करण/Agent-in-passive; by sages)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instr), बहुवचन

• शक्तिः: power; energy
• शक्तिः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगत्-योनिः: source/womb of the world
• जगत्-योनिः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘जगतः योनि:’

• सनातनी: eternal
• सनातनी: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/seekers on tattva (Prakriti–Purusha) doctrine

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maya
• Prakriti
• Triguna
• Shakti
• Sages (Munis)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the Lord (the conscious Supreme) from His manifesting power: Prakṛti/Māyā is His eternal Śakti and the cosmic source, while He remains the possessor/supporter of that power.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports tattva-viveka used in Yoga: discerning Purusha (the Lord/Self) from Prakṛti (triguṇa Māyā). Such discrimination underlies Pāśupata-oriented renunciation of guṇa-bound identification and steadiness in contemplation.

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

By presenting a shared metaphysical language—Śakti, Māyā, and triguṇa Prakṛti as the cosmic cause—this teaching aligns Vaishnava and Shaiva frameworks, where the Supreme (Hari/Hara) is one reality with an eternal manifesting power.