Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मेन्द्रोपेन्द्रनमिता शङ्करेच्छानुवर्तिनी / ईश्वरार्धासनगता महेश्वरपतिव्रता

Transliteration

brahmendropendranamitā śaṅkarecchānuvartinī / īśvarārdhāsanagatā maheśvarapativratā

Translation

Brahmā, Indra et Upendra (Viṣṇu) se prosternent devant elle ; elle suit la volonté de Śaṅkara. Assise sur la moitié du trône du Seigneur, elle est l’épouse fidèle et inébranlable de Maheśvara.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-इन्द्र-उपेन्द्र-नमिता: saluted by Brahmā, Indra, and Upendra (Viṣṇu)
• ब्रह्म-इन्द्र-उपेन्द्र-नमिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नमित (कृदन्त; √नम्, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘नमिता’ (saluted); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः—‘ब्रह्मेन्द्रउपेन्द्रैः नमिता’ (saluted by Brahmā, Indra, Upendra)

• शङ्कर-इच्छा-अनुवर्तिनी: following Śaṅkara’s wish
• शङ्कर-इच्छा-अनुवर्तिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुवर्तिन्/अनुवर्तिनी (प्रातिपदिक; from अनु+√वृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘शङ्करस्य इच्छाम् अनुवर्तते या’ (one who follows Śaṅkara’s will)

• ईश्वर-अर्ध-आसन-गता: seated on half of Īśvara’s seat
• ईश्वर-अर्ध-आसन-गता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त; √गम्, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘गता’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘ईश्वरस्य अर्ध-आसने गता’ (seated on half of Īśvara’s seat)

• महेश्वर-पति-व्रता: devoted to Maheśvara as her husband
• महेश्वर-पति-व्रता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘महेश्वरः पतिः यस्याः, तस्मिन् व्रता’ (devoted to Maheśvara as husband; pativratā)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching within the Īśvara-gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Indra
• Upendra (Viṣṇu)
• Śaṅkara
• Īśvara
• Maheśvara
• Umā/Devī (implied)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Īśvara together with the Goddess sharing the divine seat, the verse points to the Supreme as sovereign consciousness whose power (Śakti) is inseparable—hinting at a non-dual Lordhood where divinity is one reality expressed as Śiva-Śakti.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes devotional alignment (īśvara-praṇidhāna) and surrender to Śaṅkara’s will—an inner discipline central to the Īśvara-gītā’s Pāśupata-oriented spirituality, where steadiness of mind is cultivated through reverence and obedience to Īśvara.

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

By naming Upendra (Viṣṇu) among those who bow to the Goddess linked to Śaṅkara/Īśvara, it frames Vaiṣṇava reverence within a Śaiva theological setting—supporting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis that honors Śiva and Viṣṇu within a unified sacred order.