Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

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

Devanagari script

सत्यमात्रा सत्यसंधा त्रिसंध्या संधिवर्जिता / सर्ववादाश्रया संख्या संख्ययोगसमुद्भवा

Transliteration

satyamātrā satyasaṃdhā trisaṃdhyā saṃdhivarjitā / sarvavādāśrayā saṃkhyā saṃkhyayogasamudbhavā

Translation

Elle est la Vérité seule, inébranlable dans la vérité ; présente aux trois jonctions du temps, et pourtant libre de toute jonction et de toute division. Elle est le sol où s’appuient toutes les doctrines—le Sāṃkhya, né de la confluence du Sāṃkhya et du Yoga.

Word by Word

• सत्यमात्रा: having truth alone as measure; purely true
• सत्यमात्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सत्यं एव मात्रा यस्याः/या)

• सत्यसंधा: of true resolve; truth-bound
• सत्यसंधा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + संधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सत्या संधा यस्याः/या)

• त्रिसंध्या: having three junctions/twilight-times
• त्रिसंध्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः संध्याः यस्याः/या)

• संधिवर्जिता: devoid of junctions/alliances
• संधिवर्जिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संधि + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज् त्यागे)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘वर्जित’ = excluded; तत्पुरुषः (संधिः वर्जितः यस्याः/या)

• सर्ववादाश्रया: support of all doctrines/utterances
• सर्ववादाश्रया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + वाद + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्वेषां वादानाम् आश्रयः यस्याः/या)

• संख्या: number; enumeration
• संख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संख्ययोगसमुद्भवा: arisen from the union of number and yoga
• संख्ययोगसमुद्भवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संख्या + योग + समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √भू उद्भवे with सम्+उद्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (संख्यायोगात् समुद्भवा)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching King Indradyumna and the sages within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Sāṃkhya
• Yoga
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme principle as pure Truth—unchanging across the three times—yet beyond all “junctions” (combinations, transitions, and conceptual partitions), implying a transcendent reality that underlies every philosophical system.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to a Sāṃkhya–Yoga integration: discernment of reality (Sāṃkhya) joined with disciplined contemplative practice (Yoga). Practically, it supports meditation on the timeless Truth beyond changing states and the cultivation of unwavering truthfulness (satya) as a yogic foundation.

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

By declaring the Supreme as the support of all doctrines and as the shared ground of Sāṃkhya and Yoga, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s harmonizing stance: sectarian boundaries are secondary to the one Ishvara revered through both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths.