Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 144

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

Devanagari script

गुह्यशक्तिर्गुणातीता सर्वदा सर्वतोमुखी / भगिनी भगवत्पत्नी सकला कालकारिणी

Transliteration

guhyaśaktirguṇātītā sarvadā sarvatomukhī / bhaginī bhagavatpatnī sakalā kālakāriṇī

Translation

അവൾ ഗുഹ്യമായ അന്തർശക്തി, ഗുണാതീത, സർവ്വദാ സർവ്വതോമുഖി. അവൾ ഭഗിനിയും ഭഗവാന്റെ പത്നിയും; അവൾ സകലാ—സമ്പൂർണ്ണ—കാലകാരിണി.

Word by Word

• गुह्यशक्तिः: secret power
• गुह्यशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य-शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुह्यायाḥ शक्ति)

• गुणातीता: beyond the guṇas
• गुणातीता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-अतीत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अतीत’ = √इ (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (गुणान् अतीता)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सर्वतः: from all sides, everywhere
• सर्वतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिग्वाचक-अव्यय (directional adverb)

• मुखी: faced, having a face
• मुखी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुखिन्/मुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मुखं यस्याः)

• भगिनी: sister
• भगिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भगवत्पत्नी: wife of the Lord
• भगवत्पत्नी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्-पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भगवतः पत्नी)

• सकला: entire, complete
• सकला: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• कालकारिणी: maker/agent of time
• कालकारिणी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल-कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कालं करोतीति) ‘कारिणी’ = √कृ (धातु) णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त-प्रातिपदिक

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shakti (Devi)
• Bhagavan (Ishvara)
• Kala (Time)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the Supreme Power as guṇātītā (beyond the guṇas) and sarvatomukhī (all-pervading), the verse points to a reality that is not limited by material qualities and is present everywhere—indicating the transcendent basis of Atman/Ishvara behind all experience.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative Yoga that meditates on the inner (guhya) Shakti as ever-present and beyond the guṇas—encouraging guṇa-viveka (discernment from qualities) and one-pointed devotion/absorption (dhyāna) on the all-pervading Ishvara-Shakti described in the Ishvara Gita.

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

By presenting a single Supreme Shakti who is both intimate kin (bhaginī) and consort of Bhagavan, the text frames divinity as one integrated reality of Ishvara and Shakti—harmonizing Shaiva-Shakta language with Vaishnava Bhagavan terminology in a non-sectarian synthesis typical of the Kurma Purana.