Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

चतस्त्रः शक्तयो देव्याः स्वरूपत्वेन संस्थिताः / अधिष्ठानवशात् तस्याः शृणुध्वं मुनिपुङ्गवाः

Transliteration

catastraḥ śaktayo devyāḥ svarūpatvena saṃsthitāḥ / adhiṣṭhānavaśāt tasyāḥ śṛṇudhvaṃ munipuṅgavāḥ

Translation

Dewi memiliki empat śakti, teguh sebagai hakikat dirinya sendiri. Menurut perbezaan tempat bersemayam (takhta penzahiran)-Nya, dengarlah, wahai para muni yang utama.

Word by Word

• चतस्रः: four
• चतस्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• शक्तयः: powers/energies
• शक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• स्वरूपत्वेन: as (her) own nature/essential form
• स्वरूपत्वेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूपत्व (प्रातिपदिक: स्वरूप + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-अर्थे (instrumental: 'as/through the state of')

• संस्थिताः: are established/abide
• संस्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे 'स्थिताः' = 'are established'

• अधिष्ठानवशात्: by/owing to the governing basis (adhiṣṭhāna)
• अधिष्ठानवशात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिष्ठान-वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान-अर्थे (ablative: 'due to/from the control of the substratum')

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• शृणुध्वम्: hear/listen
• शृणुध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मुनिपुङ्गवाः: O best of sages
• मुनिपुङ्गवाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे (vocative sense though nominative form used)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Shakti
• Munis

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By stating that the Goddess’s powers are “established as her very nature,” the verse points to a non-dual metaphysics where power (śakti) is not separate from the supreme reality; manifestation is explained through intrinsic capacities rather than an external second principle.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse sets the doctrinal ground for Pashupata-style contemplation: the yogin is to discern how one supreme reality appears through distinct śaktis and their adhiṣṭhānas (loci), supporting meditative analysis (viveka) of manifestation back into its source.

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

In the Ishvara Gita’s synthetic frame, the teaching voice (Kurma/Vishnu) explains Devi-Shakti in a way compatible with Shaiva theology (Śakti as intrinsic to Īśvara), reflecting the Purana’s non-sectarian emphasis on one supreme principle expressed through multiple divine forms.