Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

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

Devanagari script

कामधेनुर्बृहद्गर्भा धीमती मोहनाशिनी / निः सङ्कल्पा निरातङ्का विनया विनयप्रदा

Transliteration

kāmadhenurbṛhadgarbhā dhīmatī mohanāśinī / niḥ saṅkalpā nirātaṅkā vinayā vinayapradā

Translation

Baginda ialah Kāmadhenu, lembu pemenuh hajat; berrahim agung, sumber ciptaan yang luas. Baginda bijaksana, pemusnah delusi; bebas daripada binaan fikiran, bebas daripada ketakutan. Baginda sendiri ialah kerendahan hati, dan Penganugerah kerendahan hati serta disiplin yang benar.

Word by Word

• कामधेनुः: wish-fulfilling cow
• कामधेनुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामधेनु (प्रातिपदिक; काम + धेनु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कामस्य धेनुः)

• बृहद्गर्भा: having a great womb; big-bellied
• बृहद्गर्भा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहद्गर्भा (प्रातिपदिक; बृहत् + गर्भा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (बृहान् गर्भः यस्याः)

• धीमती: intelligent, wise
• धीमती: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing intellect)

• मोहनाशिनी: destroyer of delusion
• मोहनाशिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोहनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक; मोहन + नाशिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मोहनस्य नाशिनी)

• निःसङ्कल्पा: free from resolve/mental constructs
• निःसङ्कल्पा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःसङ्कल्पा (प्रातिपदिक; निः + सङ्कल्प)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (निः = without)

• निरातङ्का: fearless; without anxiety
• निरातङ्का: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरातङ्का (प्रातिपदिक; निर् + आतङ्क)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (निर् = without)

• विनया: humility, discipline
• विनया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विनयप्रदा: bestower of humility/discipline
• विनयप्रदा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनयप्रदा (प्रातिपदिक; विनय + प्रदा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विनयं प्रददाति इति)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita-style teaching (Upari-bhaga 1–11).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Shakti)
• Kamadhenu (as epithet)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Goddess “niḥsaṅkalpā” (free from conceptual constructions) and “nirātaṅkā” (undisturbed), the verse points to the Supreme reality as beyond mental projections—known through steady discernment that dissolves delusion (moha).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice implied is moving toward a niḥsaṅkalpa (nirvikalpa-like) steadiness: restraining conceptual thought, cultivating dhī (spiritual intelligence), and grounding oneself in vinaya (disciplined humility), which aligns with Pashupata-style inner purification and composure.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, the Supreme is praised through Shakti-epithets while taught by Lord Kurma (Vishnu); this supports a non-sectarian vision where the same highest reality is approached through Shaiva-Shakti and Vaishnava revelation without contradiction.