Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

संसारपारा दुर्वारा दुर्निरोक्ष्या दुरासदा / प्राणशक्तिः प्रणविद्या योगिनी परमा कला

Transliteration

saṃsārapārā durvārā durnirokṣyā durāsadā / prāṇaśaktiḥ praṇavidyā yoginī paramā kalā

Translation

वह संसार के पार का तट है—अत्यन्त दुस्तर, अगम, देखने में कठिन और सहज उपलब्ध नहीं। वही प्राण-शक्ति, प्रणव (ॐ) की विद्या, योगिनी और परम कला है।

Word by Word

• संसार-पारा: having the far shore of saṃsāra; leading beyond worldly existence
• संसार-पारा: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + पार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (संसारस्य पारः इति) — feminine nominative singular adjective

• दुर्वारा: hard to restrain; difficult to check
• दुर्वारा: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (दुष्टं/दुर्लभं वारं यस्याः) — feminine nominative singular adjective

• दुर्-निरोक्ष्या: difficult to behold/observe
• दुर्-निरोक्ष्या: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + निरोक्ष्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ईक्ष्/ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘निरोक्ष्य’ = तुमुन्/तव्यत्-अर्थे (to be seen/observed) कृदन्त-विशेषण; कर्मधारयः — feminine nominative singular

• दुर्-आसदा: hard to approach/attain
• दुर्-आसदा: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + आसद (प्रातिपदिक; √सद् धातु ‘आसद्’ उपसर्गेण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः — feminine nominative singular adjective

• प्राण-शक्तिः: the power of life-breath
• प्राण-शक्तिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्राणानां शक्तिः) — feminine nominative singular

• प्रणव-विद्या: the knowledge of the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-विद्या: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्रणवस्य विद्या) — feminine nominative singular

• योगिनी: the Yoginī; mistress of yoga
• योगिनी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — feminine nominative singular

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण — feminine nominative singular adjective

• कला: power/portion; divine art/energy
• कला: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — feminine nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pranava (Om)
• Shakti
• Yoga (Yogini)
• Prana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the supreme principle as beyond saṃsāra and yet present as prāṇa-śakti and praṇava-vidyā, the verse points to the transcendent-immanent reality: hard to grasp as an object, but realized inwardly through its life-power and the mantra Oṃ.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes praṇava-vidyā—contemplation and disciplined meditation on Oṃ—together with mastery of prāṇa (vital force). This aligns with Ishvara Gita-style yoga where mantra, prāṇa-regulation, and inward realization culminate in approach to the supreme Shakti.

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

By presenting the supreme as Yoginī-Śakti and as the inner power realized through Oṃ and yoga, the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the one Supreme (Ishvara) is taught by Vishnu (Kurma) in terms equally resonant with Shaiva-Shakti and Vaishnava contemplative theology.