Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 167

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

Devanagari script

लोहिता सर्पमाला च भीषणी वनमालिनी / अनन्तशयनानन्या नरनारायणोद्भवा

Transliteration

lohitā sarpamālā ca bhīṣaṇī vanamālinī / anantaśayanānanyā naranārāyaṇodbhavā

Translation

അവൾ രക്തവർണ്ണിണി, സർപ്പമാല ധരിച്ചവൾ; ഭീഷണരൂപിണി, വനമാലയാൽ അലങ്കൃത. അവൾ അനന്തശയനനോട് അഭിന്ന, നര-നാരായണന്മാരിൽ നിന്നു ഉദ്ഭവിച്ചതായി പറയപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• लोहिता: reddish; red
• लोहिता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्प-माला: garland of snakes
• सर्प-माला: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (garland of snakes)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भीषणी: terrifying
• भीषणी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वन-मालिनी: wearing a garland of forest-flowers
• वन-मालिनी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (having a forest-garland)

• अनन्त-शयन-अनन्या: inseparable from Ananta’s couch (Śeṣa)
• अनन्त-शयन-अनन्या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शयन (प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; (ananyā) 'not other than'—अनन्तशयनसम्बद्धा

• नर-नारायण-उद्भवा: born from Nara and Nārāyaṇa
• नर-नारायण-उद्भवा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (arising from/of Nara-Nārāyaṇa)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita section of the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Ananta (Shesha)
• Nara
• Narayana
• Devi (as the Divine Power/Shakti)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling her “ananyā” (non-different), the verse points to non-separation between the divine Power (Śakti) and the Supreme Reality—names and forms differ, but the essence is one.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara Gita contemplation: meditate on the Divine as both terrifying (bhīṣaṇī) and auspicious (vanamālinī), integrating awe (bhaya-bhakti) and devotion—an aid to one-pointedness (ekāgratā) in Pashupata-oriented practice.

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

Through serpent imagery and “ananyā,” it blends Shaiva markers (serpent-garland, fearsome aspect) with Vaishnava identity (Ananta-śayana), presenting a unified divine principle rather than sectarian division.