Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 191

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

Devanagari script

हिमवन्मेरुनिलया कैलासगिरिवासिनी / चाणूरहन्तृतनया नीतिज्ञा कामरूपिणी

Transliteration

himavanmerunilayā kailāsagirivāsinī / cāṇūrahantṛtanayā nītijñā kāmarūpiṇī

Translation

Elle qui demeure sur l’Himavat et le Méru, qui réside au mont Kailāsa; fille de celui qui terrassa Cāṇūra; connaisseuse de la juste nīti, de l’ordre et de la conduite; et celle qui prend les formes à son gré.

Word by Word

• हिमवत्-मेरु-निलया: she whose abode is in Himavat and Meru
• हिमवत्-मेरु-निलया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मेरु (प्रातिपदिक) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—हिमवतः मेरोः निलयः यस्याः सा (locative/genitive relation in compound), feminine nominative singular agreeing with implied देवी

• कैलास-गिरि-वासिनी: dwelling on Mount Kailāsa
• कैलास-गिरि-वासिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक) + गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वासिनी (वासिन्-शब्दः), ‘कैलासगिरौ वसति’ इति (locative relation)

• चाणूर-हन्तृ-तनया: daughter of the slayer of Cāṇūra
• चाणूर-हन्तृ-तनया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाणूर (प्रातिपदिक) + हन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + तनया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘चाणूरस्य हन्तुः (कृष्णस्य) तनया’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• नीति-ज्ञा: knower of polity/ethics
• नीति-ज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीति (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नीतिं जानाति’ इति (object relation) तत्पुरुषः

• काम-रूपिणी: able to assume forms at will
• काम-रूपिणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कामेन (इच्छया) रूपं यस्याः’—इच्छानुसाररूपधारिणी (instrumental/semantic relation in compound)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita context, presenting a Devi-stuti style litany

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Himavat
• Meru
• Kailasa
• Chanura
• Krishna
• Devi (Shakti)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By attributing multiple abodes and freely assumed forms to the Goddess, the verse points to the Supreme as all-pervading and not limited by a single location or embodiment—manifesting through Śakti while remaining sovereign in essence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as nāma-smaraṇa (contemplative recitation of divine epithets): meditating on the Devi as resident in sacred peaks (Himavat, Meru, Kailāsa) supports dhāraṇā, while reflecting on her nīti-jñatā aligns practice with yama/niyama-like ethical discipline emphasized in Kurma Purana’s yogic-dharma synthesis.

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

By placing the Goddess on Kailāsa (Śaiva sphere) and also calling her the daughter of Kṛṣṇa (Vaiṣṇava sphere), the verse deliberately fuses traditions—presenting one Śakti honored across Śiva–Viṣṇu frameworks, a hallmark of the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian theology.