Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 113

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

Devanagari script

निर्यन्त्रा यन्त्रवाहस्था नन्दिनी भद्रकालिका / आदित्यवर्णा कौमारी मयूरवरवाहिनी

Transliteration

niryantrā yantravāhasthā nandinī bhadrakālikā / ādityavarṇā kaumārī mayūravaravāhinī

Translation

അവൾ നിര്യന്ത്രാ, സർവ്വാധിപത്യശക്തി; കൂടാതെ പവിത്രവാഹനത്തിലും അതിന്റെ യന്ത്രങ്ങളിലും അധിഷ്ഠിതയായി അവയെ നയിക്കുന്നവൾ. അവൾ നന്ദിനീ, ഭദ്രകാലികാ. സൂര്യതേജസ്സാൽ ദീപ്തമായ കൗമാരീ, ശ്രേഷ്ഠ മയൂരവാഹിനീ.

Word by Word

• निर्यन्त्रा: unrestrained; free from control
• निर्यन्त्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘निर्यन्त्रः’ (restraintless/free from control) इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• यन्त्रवाहस्था: seated on a chariot/vehicle
• यन्त्रवाहस्था: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यन्त्र + वाहन + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘यन्त्रवाहने स्थिता’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• नन्दिनी: Nandinī (the joyous one)
• नन्दिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (fem. nom. sg.)

• भद्रकालिका: Bhadrakālikā
• भद्रकालिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र + कालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम (fem. nom. sg.)

• आदित्यवर्णा: sun-hued; of solar complexion
• आदित्यवर्णा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदित्य + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आदित्यस्य वर्णः यस्याः’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• कौमारी: Kaumārī
• कौमारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम (fem. nom. sg.)

• मयूरवरवाहिनी: whose mount is a splendid peacock
• मयूरवरवाहिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मयूर + वर + वाहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मयूरवरं वाहनं यस्याः’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing—within the Ishvara Gita-style teaching, presenting a Devi-stuti consistent with Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Nandinī
• Bhadrakālikā
• Kaumārī
• Āditya (Sun)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the Goddess as “unrestrained” and yet the director of all instruments and vehicles, the verse points to the Supreme Power that is not conditioned by the world, while simultaneously pervading and governing all embodied functions—an Atman/Ishvara principle expressed as Shakti.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a contemplative practice of nāma-smaraṇa and devatā-dhyāna: meditating on Shakti as the inner regulator of the “yantra” (body–mind) and as the radiant Kaumārī form, aligning one’s discipline (yama-niyama and mantra-japa) with the indwelling divine governance emphasized in Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-oriented spirituality.

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

Spoken in a Kurma (Vishnu) teaching context yet praising forms like Bhadrakālikā and the Mātr̥kā Kaumārī, it reflects the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same Supreme is honored through Vaishnava narration and Shaiva-Shakta theological vocabulary, presenting one Reality through multiple divine forms.