Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 180
Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction
शिवाख्या चित्तनिलया शिवज्ञानस्वरूपिणी / दैत्यदानवनिर्मात्री काश्यपी कालकल्पिका
śivākhyā cittanilayā śivajñānasvarūpiṇī / daityadānavanirmātrī kāśyapī kālakalpikā
वह ‘शिवा’ नाम से विख्यात है; वह चित्त में निवास करती है; वह शिव-ज्ञान का ही स्वरूप है। वह दैत्य-दानवों की निर्मात्री है; वह काश्यपी है, और काल तथा कल्पों की रचयित्री शक्ति है।
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By locating the Goddess in citta itself and identifying her with śiva-jñāna, the verse points to the supreme principle as inner consciousness and liberating knowledge rather than merely an external deity.
The verse supports a Yogic approach of inward contemplation—recognizing the divine as the ground of citta—and cultivating śiva-jñāna (transformative insight), a key orientation for Pāśupata-leaning practice within the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita.
Spoken by Lord Kūrma, it praises Śivā/Śakti as the very form of Śiva-knowledge, reflecting the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Vishnu teaches reverence for Śiva-tattva as the same supreme reality expressed through different divine forms.