Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 186

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

Devanagari script

महानिद्रासमुद्भूतिरनिद्रा सत्यदेवता / दीर्घाककुद्मिनी हृद्या शान्तिदा शान्तिवर्धिनी

Transliteration

mahānidrāsamudbhūtiranidrā satyadevatā / dīrghākakudminī hṛdyā śāntidā śāntivardhinī

Translation

彼女は大いなる眠り（マハーニドラー）より生じ、常に覚醒して眠らぬ、真実の神性。長き眼、豊かな胸、心を喜ばせる者—安寧を授け、安寧を増し広げる。

Word by Word

• mahā-nidrā-samudbhūtiḥ: the arising from great sleep
• mahā-nidrā-samudbhūtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nidrā (प्रातिपदिक) + samudbhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषसमासः (determinative): ‘महानिद्रायाः समुद्भूतिः’

• anidrā: sleeplessness; the sleepless one
• anidrā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-nidrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (negated)

• satya-devatā: the deity of truth
• satya-devatā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘सत्यस्य देवता’

• dīrgha-ākakudminī: long-humped/long-crested (f.)
• dīrgha-ākakudminī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + ākakudminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘दीर्घा च सा आककुद्मिनी च’ (having a long hump/crest)

• hṛdyā: pleasing, heart-delighting
• hṛdyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• śānti-dā: giver of peace
• śānti-dā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘शान्तिं ददाति’ (giver of peace)

• śānti-vardhinī: increaser of peace
• śānti-vardhinī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक) + vardhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘शान्तिं वर्धयति’ (increaser of peace)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahānidrā
• Anidrā
• Śānti (Peace as Divine Power)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing a power that is both the source of cosmic sleep (withdrawal) and yet “sleepless” (ever-conscious), the verse points to the Divine as simultaneously immanent in dissolution and transcendent as unwavering awareness—an Atman/Brahman-like constancy behind changing states.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The emphasis on “śānti” (peace) as something bestowed and increased aligns with yogic discipline aimed at calming vṛttis (mental fluctuations). In Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita tone, peace is treated as a divine śakti that supports dhyāna (meditation) and steadiness (sthairya) on the Lord.

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

Though spoken in a Vishnu-centered dialogue, the verse praises a Shakti-like divine power (peace, truth, vigilance) that is shared across Shaiva and Vaishnava theology—supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the same supreme reality is approached through multiple divine forms.