Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

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

Devanagari script

संध्या सर्वसमुद्भूतिर्ब्रह्मवृक्षाश्रयानतिः / बीजाङ्कुरसमुद्भूतिर्महाशक्तिर्महामतिः

Transliteration

saṃdhyā sarvasamudbhūtirbrahmavṛkṣāśrayānatiḥ / bījāṅkurasamudbhūtirmahāśaktirmahāmatiḥ

Translation

Elle est Sandhyā, la jonction sacrée du temps et du culte ; elle est l’éclosion universelle de toutes choses. Elle est l’inclination humble qui prend refuge auprès de l’Arbre de Brahmā. Elle est l’émergence de la graine et du germe ; elle est la Grande Śakti, la Grande Intelligence.

Word by Word

• संध्या: twilight; Sandhyā
• संध्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वसमुद्भूतिः: origin of all
• सर्वसमुद्भूतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वसमुद्भूति (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + समुद्भूति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य समुद्भूतिः = origin of all)

• ब्रह्मवृक्षाश्रयानतिः: reverent refuge in the Brahma-tree
• ब्रह्मवृक्षाश्रयानतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मवृक्षाश्रयानति (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मवृक्ष + आश्रय + नति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मवृक्षस्य आश्रयः/आश्रये नतिः = bowing at/for refuge in the Brahma-tree)

• बीजाङ्कुरसमुद्भूतिः: source of seed and sprout
• बीजाङ्कुरसमुद्भूतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीजाङ्कुरसमुद्भूति (प्रातिपदिक; बीज + अङ्कुर + समुद्भूति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (बीजाङ्कुरयोः समुद्भूतिः = source of seed and sprout / arising as seed and sprout)

• महाशक्तिः: great power (Mahāśakti)
• महाशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाशक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; महा + शक्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः

• महामतिः: great intellect/wisdom
• महामतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक; महा + मति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sandhya
• Mahashakti
• Brahma-vriksha (cosmic tree)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing Shakti as both the source of all manifestation (sarva-samudbhūti) and as supreme intelligence (mahā-mati), the verse points to the Absolute as consciousness-power: the inner Self whose presence becomes the world without losing transcendence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds Sandhyā as a yogic discipline of daily junction-worship—cultivating nati (humble surrender) and steady recollection of the supreme Power behind all arising—supporting meditation and devotion aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-oriented spiritual ethos.

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

By centering Mahāśakti as the single cosmic power that manifests all, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the one divine Energy is inseparable from both Shiva and Vishnu, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava theology in a unified Absolute.