Shloka 9

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

नारायणी महामाया मूलप्रकृतिरव्यया / स्वधाम्ना पूरयन्तीदं मत्पार्श्वं समुपाविशत्

Transliteration

nārāyaṇī mahāmāyā mūlaprakṛtiravyayā / svadhāmnā pūrayantīdaṃ matpārśvaṃ samupāviśat

Translation

നാരായണീ—മഹാമായ, അവ്യയ മൂലപ്രകൃതി—സ്വധാമത്തിന്റെ തേജസ്സാൽ ഈ സമസ്ത ധാമവും നിറച്ച്, എന്റെ പാർശ്വത്തിൽ വന്ന് ആസീനയായി.

Word by Word

• नारायणी: Nārāyaṇī
• नारायणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण + ङीप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नारायणस्य शक्तिः/पत्नी)

• महामाया: great Māyā
• महामाया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महती माया)

• मूलप्रकृतिः: primordial nature
• मूलप्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (मूला प्रकृतिः)

• अव्यया: imperishable
• अव्यया: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वधाम्ना: by her own radiance/abode
• स्वधाम्ना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वं धाम = own splendour/abode)

• पूरयन्ती: filling/pervading
• पूरयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूर्/पॄ (धातु) → पूरयत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• इदम्: this (world/space)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• मत्पार्श्वम्: my side/near me
• मत्पार्श्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मम पार्श्वम् = my side)

• समुपाविशत्: sat down/approached and sat
• समुपाविशत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu-Narayana) speaking

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayani
• Mahamaya
• Mula-Prakriti
• Narayana (implied)

More Details (5 sections)

FAQs

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

By distinguishing the Lord (the conscious principle who speaks) from Nārāyaṇī as Mahāmāyā and Mūla-Prakṛti, the verse implies the Atman/Ishvara as the transcendent witness, while Prakṛti is the imperishable power through which manifestation occurs.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a Yoga-shastra framework where the practitioner discriminates between Purusha (the Lord/Self) and Prakṛti (Mahāmāyā). Such viveka (discernment) underlies meditative absorption: recognizing that the world is pervaded by Shakti, yet the yogin seeks steadiness in the Self beyond her transformations.

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

By presenting the cosmic Shakti (Mahāmāyā/Mūla-Prakṛti) as seated beside Nārāyaṇa, the verse aligns with Purāṇic non-dual synthesis: the same supreme reality is expressed through Lordship and Power—an outlook compatible with Shaiva-Shakta and Vaishnava theology emphasized across the Kurma Purana.