Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

अनन्तरूपानन्तस्था देवी पुरुषमोहिनी / अनेकाकारसंस्थाना कालत्रयविवर्जिता

Transliteration

anantarūpānantasthā devī puruṣamohinī / anekākārasaṃsthānā kālatrayavivarjitā

Translation

देवी अनंतरूपा असून अनंतात प्रतिष्ठित आहे; ती देहधारी पुरुषांना मोहविते। ती अनेक आकारांत स्थित असूनही भूत-वर्तमान-भविष्य या कालत्रयाच्या भेदापासून रहित आहे।

Word by Word

• अनन्तरूपा: of endless forms
• अनन्तरूपा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनन्तस्था: abiding in the Infinite
• अनन्तस्था: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त + स्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अनन्ते स्थिता’ (abiding in the Infinite)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुषमोहिनी: enchantress of men
• पुरुषमोहिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष + मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘पुरुषान् मोहयति’ (enchantress of men)

• अनेकाकारसंस्थाना: having many forms/structures
• अनेकाकारसंस्थाना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक + आकार + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अनेकाकारं संस्थानं यस्याः’ (having manifold forms/structures)

• कालत्रयविवर्जिता: free from the three times (past/present/future)
• कालत्रयविवर्जिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + त्रय + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘devoid of the three times’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Shakti
• Kala (Time)
• Purusha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By stating that Devi is beyond the threefold time, the verse points to the timeless reality underlying experience; delusion pertains to embodied perception, while the ultimate principle is not bound by temporal change.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara Gita–style contemplation: the yogin discerns Śakti’s many forms as māyā while meditating on the timeless, unconditioned ground beyond past, present, and future—key to steadiness (sthiti) in Pāśupata-oriented practice.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, the teaching voice (Kurma/Vishnu) describes Devi-Śakti in terms common to Śaiva metaphysics (Śakti beyond time) while serving a Vaishnava narrator—implying a shared non-sectarian vision of the Supreme.