Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 169

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

Devanagari script

महाज्वाला महामूर्तिः सुमूर्तिः सर्वकामधुक् / सुप्रभा सुस्तना गौरी धर्मकामार्थमोक्षदा

Transliteration

mahājvālā mahāmūrtiḥ sumūrtiḥ sarvakāmadhuk / suprabhā sustanā gaurī dharmakāmārthamokṣadā

Translation

Siya ang Dakilang Apoy, ang Malawak na Anyo ng kosmos, at ang Marikit na Anyo; Siya ang tumutupad ng lahat ng hangarin. Siya ang mismong Liwanag, ganap ang dibdib at maputi—si Gaurī—na nagkakaloob ng Dharma, Kāma, Artha, at Mokṣa.

Word by Word

• महा-ज्वाला: great flame
• महा-ज्वाला: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महा-मूर्तिः: great form
• महा-मूर्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सु-मूर्तिः: beautiful form
• सु-मूर्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्व-काम-धुक्: fulfiller of all desires
• सर्व-काम-धुक्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + धुक्/दुह् (प्रातिपदिक; from √दुह् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (one who yields all desires)

• सु-प्रभा: splendid radiance
• सु-प्रभा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सु-स्तना: having beautiful breasts
• सु-स्तना: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गौरी: Gaurī
• गौरी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्म-काम-अर्थ-मोक्ष-दा: giver of dharma, pleasure, prosperity, and liberation
• धर्म-काम-अर्थ-मोक्ष-दा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रातिपदिक; from √दा दाने धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (giver of dharma, kāma, artha, mokṣa)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context (Upari-bhaga 1–11)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Gauri
• Devi
• Shakti
• Parvati

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting the Goddess as both transcendent radiance (mahājvālā, suprabhā) and immanent cosmic form (mahāmūrtiḥ), the verse points to the one supreme reality that appears as light-consciousness and as the manifest universe, culminating in mokṣa as her gift.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as mantra-like nāma-smaraṇa (contemplative recitation of divine epithets): meditating on her as blazing radiance and cosmic form aligns the practitioner’s mind toward īśvara-bhāvanā, a supportive limb for Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inward concentration leading to liberation.

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

In the Ishvara Gita’s synthesis, the Divine Mother (Gaurī/Śakti) is praised within a teaching voiced by Lord Kurma (Vishnu), indicating a non-sectarian frame where Śaiva-Śākta power and Vaiṣṇava revelation cooperate in leading beings through the four puruṣārthas up to mokṣa.