Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

देव्युवाच मां विद्ध परमां शक्तिं परमेश्वरसमाश्रयाम् / अनन्यामव्ययामेकां यां पश्यन्ति मुमुक्षवः

Transliteration

devyuvāca māṃ viddha paramāṃ śaktiṃ parameśvarasamāśrayām / ananyāmavyayāmekāṃ yāṃ paśyanti mumukṣavaḥ

Translation

女神は言った。「我を至上のシャクティと知れ。至上主に依り、至上主に宿る力である。我は唯一にして不滅、二にあらぬシャクティ。解脱を求める者たちは我を観ずる。」

Word by Word

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), 1st person pronoun

• viddhi: know, understand
• viddhi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• paramām: supreme
• paramām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• śaktim: power, energy
• śaktim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• parameśvara-samāśrayām: resting in the Supreme Lord
• parameśvara-samāśrayām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parameśvara + sam-ā-śraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास ('having refuge in/depending on the Supreme Lord')

• ananyām: non-other, unique
• ananyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• avyayām: imperishable
• avyayām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ekām: one
• ekām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yām: whom/which
• yām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• paśyanti: see
• paśyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• mumukṣavaḥ: seekers of liberation
• mumukṣavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mumukṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Devi (the Goddess / Shakti)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Shakti
• Parameshvara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames ultimate reality as a non-dual, imperishable principle: the Goddess as Supreme Shakti, realized by mumukṣus through direct insight—pointing to liberation as experiential knowledge rather than mere belief.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic “seeing” (paśyanti): contemplative realization of the one imperishable Shakti grounded in Parameśvara—consistent with Ishvara Gita themes of inner discernment, absorption, and devotion-led knowledge in Pāśupata-oriented practice.

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

By presenting Shakti as resting in Parameśvara while remaining non-dual and one, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the supreme Lord (read across Shaiva-Vaishnava idioms) and divine power are inseparable in essence, guiding seekers beyond sectarian difference.