Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 134

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

Devanagari script

सुसौम्या चन्द्रवदना ताण्डवासक्तमानसा / सत्त्वशुद्धिकरी शुद्धिर्मलत्रयविनाशिनी

Transliteration

susaumyā candravadanā tāṇḍavāsaktamānasā / sattvaśuddhikarī śuddhirmalatrayavināśinī

Translation

Elle est toute douceur, au visage pareil à la lune ; son esprit est absorbé dans le tāṇḍava divin. Elle purifie le sattva lui-même—elle est la Pureté incarnée—et détruit les trois impuretés.

Word by Word

• सुसौम्या: very gentle, auspicious
• सुसौम्या: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सौम्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘सु-सौम्या’ (very gentle/pleasant)

• चन्द्रवदना: moon-faced
• चन्द्रवदना: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + वदना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘चन्द्र इव वदनं यस्याः’ (moon-faced)

• ताण्डवासक्तमानसा: whose mind is attached to the tāṇḍava
• ताण्डवासक्तमानसा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताण्डव + आसक्त + मानसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘ताण्डवे आसक्तं मानसं यस्याः’ (mind attached to the tāṇḍava dance)

• सत्त्वशुद्धिकरी: purifier of sattva (inner purity)
• सत्त्वशुद्धिकरी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + शुद्धि + करी (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सत्त्वस्य शुद्धिं करोति’ (purifier of sattva)

• शुद्धिः: purity
• शुद्धिः: कर्ता/नाम
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मलत्रयविनाशिनी: destroyer of the three impurities
• मलत्रयविनाशिनी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मल + त्रय + विनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक; √नश् (धातु) से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मलानां त्रयस्य विनाशिनी’ (destroyer of the three impurities)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) in the Ishvara Gita-style discourse, praising the purifying Śakti associated with Śiva

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śakti
• Śiva (implied by tāṇḍava)
• Mala-traya (three impurities)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing the destruction of mala-traya (innate limitation, māyic bondage, and karmic residue), the verse implies that realization of the Self becomes possible when obscurations are removed and sattva is made transparent—revealing the luminous, unbound consciousness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to inner purification as the core yogic work—refining sattva and dissolving mala-traya—supported by devotional absorption (āsakti) in the divine principle symbolized by Śiva’s tāṇḍava, a contemplative focus aligned with Pāśupata-oriented purification and mantra-bhakti.

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

Spoken within a Vishnu-voiced teaching (Kurma) yet centered on Śiva’s tāṇḍava and Śakti’s purifying power, it models the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Vishnu teaches a path where Śiva-Śakti are honored as direct means to liberation.