Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37
Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching
Iśvara-Gītā Prelude
अस्यास्त्वंशानधिष्ठाय शक्तिमन्तो ऽभवन् द्विजाः / ब्रह्मेशानादयो देवाः सर्वशक्तिरियं मम
asyāstvaṃśānadhiṣṭhāya śaktimanto 'bhavan dvijāḥ / brahmeśānādayo devāḥ sarvaśaktiriyaṃ mama
Présidant à des parts de Sa puissance, les êtres rayonnants furent investis de force; ainsi apparurent Brahmā, Īśāna (Śiva) et les autres dieux. Cette (Déesse) est Ma Puissance totale, la Śakti qui embrasse tout.
Primary narrator voice of the Purana (Vyasa/Suta tradition), presenting the theology of Śakti as the Supreme Lord’s power
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents the Supreme as possessing an all-inclusive Śakti through which even the highest deities become capable; the One reality is implied as the source, while Śakti is its operative power in manifestation.
No direct practice is prescribed in this verse; it lays the metaphysical basis used later in Kurma Purana yoga-teachings—realization that all capacities (śakti) arise by participation in the Lord’s power, supporting devotion, concentration, and disciplined sādhanā.
By naming Īśāna among the empowered gods and calling Śakti “My” all-power, it frames Śiva and other deities as receiving power from the same Supreme source—supporting the Purana’s non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.