Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109

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

Devanagari script

नीतिः सुनीतिः सुकृतिर्माधवी नरवाहिनी / अजा विभावरी सौम्या भोगिनी भोगदायिनी

Transliteration

nītiḥ sunītiḥ sukṛtirmādhavī naravāhinī / ajā vibhāvarī saumyā bhoginī bhogadāyinī

Translation

Dia ialah Nīti dan Sunīti—tata laku benar dan disiplin mulia; Dia ialah Sukṛti—kebajikan yang berpahala. Dia ialah Mādhavī, daya kekasih Mādhava; Dia yang dijunjung oleh manusia. Tanpa kelahiran, Dia adalah Malam itu sendiri—lembut dan membawa tuah; Dia yang menikmati dan yang mengurniakan kenikmatan.

Word by Word

• नीतिः: policy; right conduct
• नीतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुनीतिः: good conduct
• सुनीतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-नीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: शोभना नीति (उपसर्गपूर्वक-कर्मधारय)

• सुकृतिः: good deed; merit
• सुकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: शोभना कृतिः/सत्कर्म (उपसर्गपूर्वक-कर्मधारय)

• माधवी: Mādhavī (name/epithet)
• माधवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (नाम/विशेष-नाम)

• नरवाहिनी: carrier of men
• नरवाहिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर-वाहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; समासः: नरान् वहति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• अजा: the Unborn (Ajā)
• अजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (नाम: ‘unborn’/‘goat’—here epithet)

• विभावरी: night
• विभावरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभावरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सौम्या: gentle, auspicious
• सौम्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• भोगिनी: enjoyer; possessor of enjoyments
• भोगिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (कर्तृवाचक-नाम)

• भोगदायिनी: giver of enjoyments
• भोगदायिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग- दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; समासः: भोगं ददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching in the Īśvara-gītā section (stotra-style enumeration of Śakti’s names)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Mādhava (Viṣṇu)
• Śakti (Devī)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying the Divine Power with nīti (ethical order) and sukṛti (inner merit), the verse implies that spiritual realization is inseparable from an all-pervading sacred principle that governs both inner conscience and outer order—pointing to the One Reality manifesting as virtue, auspiciousness, and fruition.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds discipline (sunīti) and ethical alignment (nīti) as foundational limbs for Yoga: self-regulation, purity of intention, and merit-producing conduct that supports deeper contemplative practice—consistent with Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented emphasis on dharma as the ground for higher realization.

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

Though Mādhavī directly links Śakti with Mādhava (Viṣṇu), the Īśvara-gītā context treats the Divine as one, expressed through shared Śakti-theology that is compatible with Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frameworks—supporting the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis.