Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

एभ्यः परतरो देवस्त्रिमूर्तिः परमा तनुः / माहेश्वरी त्रिनयना योगिनां शान्तिदा सदा

Transliteration

ebhyaḥ parataro devastrimūrtiḥ paramā tanuḥ / māheśvarī trinayanā yogināṃ śāntidā sadā

Translation

เหนือสิ่งเหล่านี้ทั้งปวงคือพระผู้เป็นเจ้า ผู้มีพระวรกายสูงสุดเป็นตรีมูรติ; พระมหาอิศวรีผู้มีสามเนตร ประทานสันติแก่โยคีทั้งหลายเสมอ।

Word by Word

• एभ्यः: from these
• एभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, बहुवचन (Ablative, Pl)

• परतरः: higher, superior
• परतरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paratara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Sg)

• देवः: god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Sg)

• त्रिमूर्तिः: the three-formed (Trimūrti)
• त्रिमूर्तिः: Samanadhikarana (समानाधिकरण/epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (‘त्रयः मूर्तयः यस्य/त्रयाणां मूर्तीनाम्’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Sg)

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Sg)

• तनुः: body, form
• तनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Sg)

• माहेश्वरी: belonging to Maheśvara; Maheśvarī
• माहेश्वरी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māheśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Sg)

• त्रिनयना: three-eyed
• त्रिनयना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + nayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (‘त्रीणि नयनानि यस्याः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Sg)

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (Genitive, Pl)

• शान्तिदा: giver of peace
• शान्तिदा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘शान्तिं ददाति’); क्विप्/णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (agent noun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Sg)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-Adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time/कालवाचक)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in the Īśvara-gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Trimurti
• Maheśvarī
• Trinayana (Three-eyed Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a highest divine principle beyond all prior categories, expressed as the supreme embodiment (paramā tanūḥ) of the Trimūrti—suggesting one transcendent reality that can appear through multiple divine functions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic contemplation on the supreme divine form—especially the three-eyed Mahāśvarī/Īśvara aspect—as a direct means to śānti (inner tranquility), aligning with the Īśvara-gītā’s theistic-yogic orientation.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, the supreme is taught as one reality manifesting as the Trimūrti; the specifically Śaiva marker “three-eyed” is honored within a teaching voice attributed to Lord Kūrma, reinforcing non-sectarian unity.