Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 170

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

Devanagari script

भ्रूमध्यनिलया पूर्वा पुराणपुरुषारणिः / महाविभूतिदा मध्या सरोजनयना समा

Transliteration

bhrūmadhyanilayā pūrvā purāṇapuruṣāraṇiḥ / mahāvibhūtidā madhyā sarojanayanā samā

Translation

Demeurant dans l’espace entre les sourcils, elle est la Primordiale—le bois à feu qui attise l’Ancien Puruṣa. Au centre, elle accorde la grande vibhūti (puissance divine) ; elle a des yeux de lotus et demeure toujours égale et paisible.

Word by Word

• भ्रू-मध्य-निलया: dwelling at the brow-center
• भ्रू-मध्य-निलया: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (dwelling in/at the middle of the eyebrows)

• पूर्वा: primeval; former
• पूर्वा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुराण-पुरुष-अरणिः: the fire-stick of the Ancient Person
• पुराण-पुरुष-अरणिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अरणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (fire-stick of the ancient Person)

• महा-विभूति-दा: giver of great glory/power
• महा-विभूति-दा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूति (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रातिपदिक; from √दा दाने धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (giver of great prosperity/power)

• मध्या: middle; central
• मध्या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सरोज-नयना: lotus-eyed
• सरोज-नयना: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरोज (प्रातिपदिक) + नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; बहुव्रीहि (whose eyes are like lotuses)

• समा: equal; even; balanced
• समा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

A sage/narrator continuing a hymn of praise (stuti) to Devī/Śakti within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Śakti
• Puruṣa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents realization as awakened by Śakti: the “Ancient Puruṣa” is kindled like fire through the āraṇi, implying the Self is ever-present but disclosed through inner yogic power and contemplation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to bhrūmadhya-dhyāna—steady attention at the mid-brow (ājñā-sthāna), associated with inner stillness (samatā) and the arising of vibhūtis when the central current is stabilized.

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

By praising the one Śakti who awakens the primordial Puruṣa, the Purāṇa frames divinity as a unified reality where the same inner power operates across Shaiva and Vaishnava expressions rather than opposing them.