Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

हीमवानुवाच का त्वं देवि विशालाक्षि शशाङ्कावयवाङ्किते / न जाने त्वामहं वत्से यथावद् ब्रूहि पृच्छते

Transliteration

hīmavānuvāca kā tvaṃ devi viśālākṣi śaśāṅkāvayavāṅkite / na jāne tvāmahaṃ vatse yathāvad brūhi pṛcchate

Translation

హిమవాన్ పలికెను—హే విశాలనేత్రి దేవీ, చంద్రచిహ్నంతో అలంకృతమైయున్నావే! వత్సే, నేను నిన్ను ఎరుగను; నేను అడుగుచున్నదాన్ని యథావిధిగా చెప్పుము.

Word by Word

• hīmavān: Himavān (the mountain)
• hīmavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hīmavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• kā: who?
• kā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• devi: O goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• viśālākṣi: O wide-eyed one
• viśālākṣi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśāla + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: 'wide' + 'eyed')

• śaśāṅkāvayavāṅkite: O one marked with moon-like parts
• śaśāṅkāvayavāṅkite: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaśāṅka + avayava + aṅkita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'marked with limbs/parts of the moon')

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• jāne: I know
• jāne: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Atmanepada)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), 2nd person pronoun

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), 1st person pronoun

• vatse: O dear one
• vatse: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine; affectionate address), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• yathāvat: properly, as it is
• yathāvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• brūhi: tell
• brūhi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• pṛcchate: to (one who) asks
• pṛcchate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Atmanepada); वर्तमान-कृदन्तार्थे (used with sense 'to one who asks')

Speaker

Himavan (the personified Himalaya mountain)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Himavan
• Devi
• Shashanka (Moon)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead, it frames a classic purāṇic inquiry—true knowledge begins by asking the identity (tattva-paricaya) of the divine presence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is taught in this line; the yogic foundation implied is śraddhā and jijñāsā (reverent inquiry), which precede instruction in disciplines like Pāśupata-oriented restraint and contemplation elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

The moon-mark imagery is strongly Śaiva in resonance (candra symbolism), while the Kurma Purana overall promotes a synthesizing lens; here, the text sets up recognition of divinity beyond sectarian labels through inquiry.