Shloka 150

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

Devanagari script

विश्वावस्था वियन्मूर्तिर्विद्युन्माला विहायसी / किंनरी सुरभी वन्द्या नन्दिनी नन्दिवल्लभा

Transliteration

viśvāvasthā viyanmūrtirvidyunmālā vihāyasī / kiṃnarī surabhī vandyā nandinī nandivallabhā

Translation

അവൾ വിശ്വാവസ്ഥാ—വിശ്വസ്ഥിതിയുടെ ആധാരം, വ്യോമമൂർത്തി; അവൾ വിദ്യുന്മാലാ, വിഹായസീ—ദിവ്യ ഗഗനചാരിണി. അവൾ കിന്നരീ, സുരഭീ, വന്ദ്യാ—വന്ദനീയ; അവൾ നന്ദിനീ, നന്ദിയുടെ പ്രിയ (നന്ദിവല്ലഭാ)।

Word by Word

• विश्व-अवस्था: state of the universe; universal condition
• विश्व-अवस्था: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘विश्वस्य अवस्था’ (state/condition of the universe)

• वियत्-मूर्तिः: whose form is the sky/space
• वियत्-मूर्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वियत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘वियतः मूर्तिः’ (form of the sky/space)

• विद्युत्-माला: garland of lightning
• विद्युत्-माला: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘विद्युतः माला’

• विहायसी: heavenly; belonging to the sky
• विहायसी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहायस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘विहायसि भवति’ इति—आकाशसम्बन्धिनी

• किंनरी: female kiṃnara (celestial being)
• किंनरी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंनरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सुरभी: fragrant
• सुरभी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरभी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वन्द्या: worthy of worship
• वन्द्या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्द्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि-यत् (gerundive) — √वन्द् (धातु) + यत्; ‘to be praised/worshipped’

• नन्दिनी: Nandinī; the delighting one
• नन्दिनी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• नन्दि-वल्लभा: beloved of Nandi
• नन्दि-वल्लभा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘नन्देः वल्लभा’ (beloved of Nandi)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing within the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surabhi
• Nandinī
• Nandin

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the divine as “world-sustaining” and “sky-formed,” the verse points to an all-pervading, sustaining principle—an immanent sacred presence that upholds the cosmos, a hallmark of the Ishvara-centered teaching in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse functions as nāma-smaraṇa and stuti: contemplative recollection through sacred epithets. In the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning framework, such focused praise supports one-pointed devotion (ekāgratā) and inner purification, preparing the practitioner for deeper discipline.

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

By honoring a figure linked to Śiva (Nandin) within the Ishvara Gita taught by Lord Kurma (Viṣṇu), the verse exemplifies the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: divine powers and attendants are revered across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frames as expressions of one sacred reality.