Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

महामाया सुदुष्पूरा मूलप्रकृतिरीश्वरी / संसारयोनिः सकला सर्वशक्तिसमुद्भवा

Transliteration

mahāmāyā suduṣpūrā mūlaprakṛtirīśvarī / saṃsārayoniḥ sakalā sarvaśaktisamudbhavā

Translation

彼女はマハーマーヤー、測りがたく越え難い者—主宰たる根本自然、ムーラ・プラクリティそのもの。彼女はサンサーラの胎、あらゆる面で円満具足し、すべての力がそこから生起する源である。

Word by Word

• mahā-māyā: great māyā (illusion/power)
• mahā-māyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन

• su-duṣpūrā: very hard to satisfy/fill
• su-duṣpūrā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + duṣpūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; ‘दुष्पूरा’ (hard to satisfy/fill) with intensifier su-

• mūla-prakṛtiḥ: root Prakṛti
• mūla-prakṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; ‘मूला प्रकृतिः’ (root nature)

• īśvarī: goddess; sovereign lady
• īśvarī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन

• saṃsāra-yoniḥ: source of saṃsāra
• saṃsāra-yoniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; ‘संसारस्य योनिः’ (source of transmigration)

• sakalā: complete; entire
• sakalā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन

• sarva-śakti-samudbhavā: source of all powers
• sarva-śakti-samudbhavā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + samudbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; ‘सर्वशक्तीनां समुद्भवा’ (origin/source)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita framework (Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Mahāmāyā
• Mūlaprakṛti
• Īśvarī
• Śakti
• Saṃsāra

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the Supreme principle from the veiling power: Mahāmāyā is the complete cosmic Śakti that generates saṃsāra, implying that liberation requires discerning the Atman/Ishvara beyond Prakṛti’s all-encompassing power.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a Pāśupata-oriented yogic stance of viveka (discrimination) and vairāgya (dispassion): recognizing Mahāmāyā as the powerful source of worldly entanglement is the basis for turning the mind toward Ishvara through dhyāna and inner detachment.

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

By presenting the supreme teaching through Lord Kūrma while affirming Śakti/Īśvarī in a way compatible with Shaiva metaphysics, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: one Ishvara is taught through complementary Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms.