Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 153

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

Devanagari script

त्रिविक्रमपदोद्भूता धनुष्पाणिः शिवोदया / सुदुर्लभा धनाद्यक्षा धन्या पिङ्गललोचना

Transliteration

trivikramapadodbhūtā dhanuṣpāṇiḥ śivodayā / sudurlabhā dhanādyakṣā dhanyā piṅgalalocanā

Translation

அவள் திரிவிக்ரமனின் பாதச்சுவடிலிருந்து தோன்றியவள்; கையில் வில்லைத் தாங்கியவள்; சிவோதயத்தால் மங்களம் தருபவள்—அரிதாகப் பெறத்தக்கவள். செல்வ முதலியவற்றின் அதிஷ்டாத்ரி யக்ஷராணி; பாக்கியவதி, பொன்னிற (பிங்கல) கண்களையுடையவள்.

Word by Word

• त्रि-विक्रम-पद-उद्भूता: arisen from Trivikrama’s footstep
• त्रि-विक्रम-पद-उद्भूता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भूत (कृदन्त; √भू ‘to be’ + उद्-; past participle)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष (त्रिविक्रमपदात् उद्भूता = arisen from the stride/footstep of Trivikrama)

• धनुस्-पाणिः: bow-in-handed
• धनुस्-पाणिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (धनुः पाणौ यस्य/यस्या = having a bow in hand; used as epithet)

• शिव-उदया: auspicious-rising; bringing auspiciousness
• शिव-उदया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य उदयः = auspicious rising / bringing auspiciousness)

• सु-दुर्लभा: very difficult to obtain
• सु-दुर्लभा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘सु’ उपपद-प्रयोग (very hard to obtain)

• धन-आद्यक्षा: guardian of wealth
• धन-आद्यक्षा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षा/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; here as ‘guardian/overseer’ sense)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (धनस्य आद्यक्षा = overseer/guardian of wealth)

• धन्या: blessed
• धन्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (fortunate, blessed)

• पिङ्गल-लोचना: tawny-eyed
• पिङ्गल-लोचना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (पिङ्गले लोचने यस्याः = having tawny/brown eyes)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Trivikrama (Vishnu)
• Shiva
• Yaksha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By linking the Goddess to Trivikrama (Vishnu) and to Śiva’s auspicious power, the verse points to a single supreme reality manifesting as divine energy (Śakti) that grants both inner realization and worldly well-being.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes attainability through grace—she is “sudurlabhā”—implying disciplined devotion (bhakti) and contemplative worship of Śakti in harmony with Pashupata-oriented reverence for Śiva, as taught in the Ishvara Gita context.

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

She is said to arise from Trivikrama (a Vishnu form) while being “śivodayā,” showing a synthetic, non-sectarian vision where Vishnu’s cosmic act and Śiva’s auspiciousness operate as one integrated divine principle.