Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 137

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

Devanagari script

विद्येश्वरप्रिया विद्या विद्युज्जिह्वा जितश्रमा / विद्यामयी सहस्त्राक्षी सहस्त्रवदनात्मजा

Transliteration

vidyeśvarapriyā vidyā vidyujjihvā jitaśramā / vidyāmayī sahastrākṣī sahastravadanātmajā

Translation

Elle est Vidyā, la Connaissance même, aimée de Vidyeśvara, Seigneur du Savoir; sa langue est comme l’éclair et elle est sans fatigue. Toute de sagesse pure, aux mille yeux, elle est la fille de Celui aux mille visages.

Word by Word

• विद्येश्वरप्रिया: beloved of Vidyeśvara
• विद्येश्वरप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्येश्वर + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विद्येश्वरस्य प्रिया)

• विद्या: knowledge; learning
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विद्युज्जिह्वा: having a lightning-like tongue
• विद्युज्जिह्वा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (विद्युत्-समाना जिह्वा यस्याः)

• जितश्रमा: one who has conquered fatigue
• जितश्रमा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (जि धातु, क्त-कृदन्त) + श्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (श्रमं जितवती)

• विद्यामयी: consisting of knowledge; full of learning
• विद्यामयी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विद्यामयी = विद्या-स्वरूपा/विद्यया पूर्णा)

• सहस्त्राक्षी: thousand-eyed
• सहस्त्राक्षी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (सहस्रम् अक्षीणि यस्याः)

• सहस्त्रवदनात्मजा: daughter of the thousand-faced (one)
• सहस्त्रवदनात्मजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्रवदन + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सहस्रवदनस्य आत्मजा)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vidya (Goddess of Knowledge)
• Vidyeshvara (Lord of Knowledge)
• Sahasravadanah (the Thousand-faced One, Brahma)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the goddess as “Knowledge itself” (vidyāmayī), the verse points to liberating wisdom (jñāna) as the inner light through which the Self is realized—knowledge is not merely information but a transforming power that reveals reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports jñāna-yoga and mantra-oriented contemplation: meditating on the deity as embodied knowledge, all-seeing (sahasrākṣī), and tireless (jitaśramā) cultivates steady attention, purity of speech, and insight—key supports for Pāśupata-aligned discipline and inner recitation.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita’s synthetic theology, divine knowledge is praised as a single supreme power honored across traditions—spoken by Kurma (Vishnu) yet framed in language compatible with Shaiva devotion (Vidyeshvara), emphasizing unity of the divine rather than sectarian separation.