Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

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

Devanagari script

ईश्वराणी च शर्वाणी शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी / भवानी चैव रुद्राणी महालक्ष्मीरथाम्बिका

Transliteration

īśvarāṇī ca śarvāṇī śaṅkarārdhaśarīriṇī / bhavānī caiva rudrāṇī mahālakṣmīrathāmbikā

Translation

Elle est Īśvarāṇī et Śarvāṇī—la Déesse dont la forme est la moitié de Śaṅkara ; elle est Bhavānī et Rudrāṇī, et aussi Mahālakṣmī, Ambikā, la Mère suprême.

Word by Word

• ईश्वराणी: Īśvarāṇī (consort of Īśvara)
• ईश्वराणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वराणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; देवी-नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शर्वाणी: Śarvāṇī
• शर्वाणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम

• शङ्कर-अर्ध-शरीरिणी: she whose body is half Śaṅkara’s
• शङ्कर-अर्ध-शरीरिणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + शरीरिन्/शरीरिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘शङ्करस्य अर्धं शरीरं यस्याः सा’ (having half of Śaṅkara as her body)

• भवानी: Bhavānī
• भवानी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• रुद्राणी: Rudrāṇī
• रुद्राणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम

• महा-लक्ष्मी-रथा-अम्बिका: Ambikā—Mahālakṣmī, Rathā
• महा-लक्ष्मी-रथा-अम्बिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + रथा (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (appositional epithet): ‘महालक्ष्मीः, रथा, अम्बिका’ इति नामसमुच्चयवत् एकपदम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita section (Upari-bhaga 1–11)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvarani
• Sharvani
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Bhavani
• Rudrani
• Mahalakshmi
• Ambika
• Ardhanarishvara (half-body doctrine)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting one Goddess under both Shaiva (Īśvarāṇī, Śarvāṇī, Rudrāṇī) and Vaishnava (Mahālakṣmī) titles, the verse points to a single supreme reality manifesting through multiple divine powers—supporting a non-sectarian, integrative vision of the Self and its Śakti.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as a dhyāna-supporting nāma-stuti: contemplation on the Goddess as the unified Śakti of Shiva and Lakṣmī stabilizes devotion (bhakti) and one-pointedness (ekāgratā), aligning with Ishvara Gita–style discipline that undergirds Pāśupata-oriented worship and meditation.

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

It harmonizes traditions by identifying the same supreme Goddess as both Shiva’s inseparable power (half of Śaṅkara) and as Mahālakṣmī, implying a theological unity where Shaiva and Vaishnava forms converge within one divine reality.