Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 127

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

Devanagari script

वैश्वानरी महाशाला देवसेना गुहप्रिया / महारात्रिः शिवानन्दा शची दुः स्वप्ननाशिनी

Transliteration

vaiśvānarī mahāśālā devasenā guhapriyā / mahārātriḥ śivānandā śacī duḥ svapnanāśinī

Translation

นางคือไวศวานรี มหาศาลา—ที่พำนักอันยิ่งใหญ่กว้างขวาง; เทวเสนา ผู้เป็นที่รักของคุหา (สกันทะ). นางคือมหาราตรี ศิวานันดา ศจี และผู้ทำลายฝันร้าย.

Word by Word

• वैश्वानरी: Vaiśvānarī (fire/Agni aspect)
• वैश्वानरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्वानरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाशाला: great-housed; possessing a great abode
• महाशाला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + शाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• देवसेना: army of the gods; Devasenā
• देवसेना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुहप्रिया: beloved of Guha (Kārttikeya)
• गुहप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महारात्रिः: the great night
• महारात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवानन्दा: whose bliss is Śiva; delighting in Śiva
• शिवानन्दा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + आनन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शची: Śacī (Indra’s consort)
• शची: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दुः: bad; difficult; evil (prefix)
• दुः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दुस् (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-स्वरूप)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद (prefix-like particle)

• स्वप्ननाशिनी: destroyer of (bad) dreams
• स्वप्ननाशिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप्न + नाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita-style hymn of divine names (Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Guha (Skanda/Kartikeya)
• Shiva
• Saci (Indrani)
• Devasena
• Maharatri

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting one Divine Reality through many sacred epithets (fire-like universality, cosmic night, Śiva’s bliss), the verse implies a single supreme power manifesting in multiple forms—supporting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian, integrative vision.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports nāma-japa and stotra-recitation as a yogic aid: concentrating the mind on divine qualities (śakti as Vaiśvānarī, Mahārātri, Śivānandā) to remove inner disturbances—symbolized by the ‘destruction of evil dreams’—and stabilize meditation.

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

Spoken within a Vishnu/Kurma discourse yet invoking Śiva-centered epithets (Śivānandā) and Skanda (Guha), it models the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: one sacred truth honored through interconnected deities and names.