Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 124

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

Devanagari script

दक्षिणा दहना दाह्या सर्वभूतनमस्कृता / योगमाया विभावज्ञा महामाया महीयसी

Transliteration

dakṣiṇā dahanā dāhyā sarvabhūtanamaskṛtā / yogamāyā vibhāvajñā mahāmāyā mahīyasī

Translation

Elle est Dakṣiṇā, l’offrande sacrée et propice ; elle est la puissance qui brûle et ce qui doit être brûlé. Tous les êtres la saluent avec révérence. Elle est Yogamāyā, celle qui connaît toutes les manifestations ; Mahāmāyā, la Puissance immensément grande et la plus vénérable.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणा: Dakṣiṇā; the southern/auspicious one
• दक्षिणा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दहना: burning; consuming
• दहना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दहन-शब्दः (burning) स्त्रीरूपे

• दाह्या: to be burnt; burnable
• दाह्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दाह्य (प्रातिपदिक; √दह् (धातु) से यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (fit to be burnt / to be burned)

• सर्वभूतनमस्कृता: revered by all beings
• सर्वभूतनमस्कृता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वभूतनमस्कृता (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भूत + नमस्कृत)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वैः भूतैः नमस्कृता = saluted by all beings)

• योगमाया: Yogamāyā (mystic power)
• योगमाया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगमाया (प्रातिपदिक; योग + माया)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (योगस्य माया)

• विभावज्ञा: knower of manifestations/powers
• विभावज्ञा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभावज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक; विभाव + ज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विभावं जानाति इति)

• महामाया: Mahāmāyā, great illusion/power
• महामाया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामाया (प्रातिपदिक; महा + माया)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः

• महीयसी: greater, more exalted
• महीयसी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक/Comparative)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-रूप (comparative: greater)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Yogamaya
• Mahamaya
• Devi (Shakti)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing Yogamāyā/Mahāmāyā as the power behind both the “burner” and the “burnt,” the verse implies that the apparent dualities of world-experience arise through divine Power; the Atman/Ishvara stands as the underlying reality while Māyā governs manifestation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to Yogamāyā—suggesting yogic discernment (viveka) that recognizes how experiences and states (vibhāva) are shaped by Māyā. In the Ishvara Gita frame, this supports meditation on Ishvara with insight into the play of manifestation rather than attachment to its forms.

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

By foregrounding the single cosmic Shakti (Yogamāyā/Mahāmāyā) revered by all beings, the Kurma Purana advances a synthesis: the same supreme Power serves the one Ishvara honored in both Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms, softening sectarian boundaries through a non-dual theological lens.