Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 153

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

इत्येवं मन्यमानानां ध्यानमार्गावलम्बिनाम् / आविरासीन्महादेवी देवी गिरिवरात्मजा

Transliteration

ityevaṃ manyamānānāṃ dhyānamārgāvalambinām / āvirāsīnmahādevī devī girivarātmajā

Translation

इस प्रकार ध्यान-मार्ग का आश्रय लेने वालों के मन में ऐसा विचार उठते ही, महादेवी—श्रेष्ठ पर्वत की पुत्री—उनके सामने प्रकट हुईं।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एवम्: in this way
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• मन्यमानानाम्: of those thinking
• मन्यमानानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive: of those who think)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural); धातु: मन् (to think/consider)

• ध्यानमार्गावलम्बिनाम्: of the followers of the meditation-path
• ध्यानमार्गावलम्बिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive: of the followers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान + मार्ग + अवलम्बिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (ध्यानमार्गम् अवलम्बन्ति ये = those who follow the path of meditation); पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural, masc.)

• आविरासीत्: appeared
• आविरासीत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आविर्-भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातु: आविर्भू (to appear/manifest)

• महादेवी: the Great Goddess
• महादेवी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महती देवी); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.), महादेवी इत्यस्य पुनरुक्ति/विशेषणार्थ

• गिरिवरात्मजा: daughter of the excellent mountain (Pārvatī)
• गिरिवरात्मजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिवर + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गिरिवरस्य आत्मजा = daughter of the best mountain); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta/authorial voice within the Kurma Purana frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahādevī
• Devī
• Girivarātmajā (Pārvatī/Umā, daughter of Himālaya)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes that sustained dhyāna (meditative absorption) culminates in direct manifestation/realization of the divine presence—an experiential confirmation of the inner reality sought by yogins.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights dhyāna-mārga—reliance on the disciplined path of meditation—implying steadiness, one-pointed contemplation, and receptivity whereby divine vision (darśana) arises as the fruit of practice.

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

By foregrounding the Goddess’ epiphany as the result of yogic contemplation, the Purāṇic synthesis is reinforced: devotion and meditation lead to the same supreme reality expressed through different forms (Śaiva-Śākta-Vaiṣṇava) without contradiction.