Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156

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

Devanagari script

हिरण्यवर्णा रजनी जगद्यन्त्रप्रवर्तिका / मन्दराद्रिनिवासा च शारदा स्वर्णमालिनी

Transliteration

hiraṇyavarṇā rajanī jagadyantrapravartikā / mandarādrinivāsā ca śāradā svarṇamālinī

Translation

D’or éclatante, la Nuit, celle qui met en mouvement le mécanisme de l’univers; demeurant sur le mont Mandara—Śāradā, parée d’une guirlande d’or.

Word by Word

• हिरण्यवर्णा: golden-colored
• हिरण्यवर्णा: Karta (कर्ता/सम्बोधनार्थ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्य + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• रजनी: night
• रजनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (fem. nom. sg.)

• जगत्-यन्त्र-प्रवर्तिका: the activator of the world-machine
• जगत्-यन्त्र-प्रवर्तिका: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जगत् + यन्त्र + प्रवर्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतो यन्त्रं) + तत्पुरुषः (यन्त्रस्य प्रवर्तिका)

• मन्दर-अद्रि-निवासा: dwelling on Mount Mandara
• मन्दर-अद्रि-निवासा: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्दर + अद्रि + निवासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.); सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्दराद्रौ निवासः/निवासा)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शारदा: Śāradā (goddess)
• शारदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (fem. nom. sg.)

• स्वर्णमालिनी: wearing a garland of gold
• स्वर्णमालिनी: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण + मालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्णस्य मालिनी)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching/praising the Divine Shakti within the Ishvara Gita frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Shakti)
• Rajani
• Sharada
• Mount Mandara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Devi as the power that impels the universe’s “yantra” (ordered system), the verse implies that transcendent consciousness is inseparable from its immanent Shakti—Atman/Ishvara is known through the cosmic order it energizes.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Shakti-focused contemplation: meditating on the Goddess as the inner regulator of cosmic rhythms (night/time/order) aligns the mind with īśvara-śakti—an Ishvara Gita style aid to steadiness (dhāraṇā) and devotional absorption (bhakti-yoga) compatible with Pashupata-oriented theism.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, Vishnu (as Kurma) praises the same supreme Shakti revered in Shaiva contexts (Śāradā/Devi), indicating a non-sectarian unity where Shiva–Vishnu worship converges through the one divine power that sustains and moves the cosmos.