Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 198

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

Devanagari script

अनन्तदृष्टिरक्षुद्रा धात्रीशा धनदप्रिया / निहन्त्री दैत्यसङ्घानां सिहिका सिहवाहना

Transliteration

anantadṛṣṭirakṣudrā dhātrīśā dhanadapriyā / nihantrī daityasaṅghānāṃ sihikā sihavāhanā

Translation

हे देवी! आपकी दृष्टि अनन्त और अवरोध-रहित है; आप कभी क्षुद्र नहीं। आप धात्री-ईशा, पालनकर्त्री अधीश्वरी, धनद (कुबेर) की प्रिया, दैत्य-समूहों का संहार करने वाली, सिहिका, और सिंहवाहिनी हैं।

Word by Word

• अनन्तदृष्टिः: of infinite vision
• अनन्तदृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—अनन्ता दृष्टिः यस्याः (infinite vision)

• अक्षुद्रा: not small; noble
• अक्षुद्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (not petty/mean)

• धात्रीशा: mistress of the sustainer
• धात्रीशा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धात्री + ईशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—धात्र्याः ईशा (mistress of the sustainer/earth)

• धनदप्रिया: beloved of the wealth-giver (Kubera)
• धनदप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनद + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—धनदस्य (कुबेरस्य) प्रिया (beloved of Kubera)

• निहन्त्री: slayer; destroyer
• निहन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + हन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √हन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृन्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (slayer)

• दैत्यसङ्घानाम्: of the hosts of demons
• दैत्यसङ्घानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive—object of slaying)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—दैत्यानां सङ्घाः (hosts of demons)

• सिहिका: Sihikā (name)
• सिहिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet/name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिहिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषनाम

• सिहवाहना: lion-mounted
• सिहवाहना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिह + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—सिहः वाहनं यस्याः (lion as vehicle)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Shakti)
• Dhanada (Kubera)
• Daityas
• Kurma (Vishnu)
• Indradyumna

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Goddess as “infinite in vision” and sovereign sustainer, the verse points to an all-pervading, all-knowing divine consciousness—Shakti inseparable from Ishvara—through whom limited individuality is transcended.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as mantra-like nāma-smaraṇa (contemplation through sacred names): meditating on the Devi’s boundless awareness and protective power supports ekāgratā (one-pointedness) and fearlessness—core aids for Pashupata-oriented inner discipline in the Ishvara Gita setting.

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

Spoken by Lord Kurma in the Ishvara Gita atmosphere, the praise of Devi as universal sovereign reflects the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same supreme reality is approached through Vishnu’s teaching and realized as Shakti/Ishvari supporting the Shaiva-Vaishnava unity.