Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

अस्यास्त्वंशानधिष्ठाय शक्तिमन्तो ऽभवन् द्विजाः / ब्रह्मेशानादयो देवाः सर्वशक्तिरियं मम

Transliteration

asyāstvaṃśānadhiṣṭhāya śaktimanto 'bhavan dvijāḥ / brahmeśānādayo devāḥ sarvaśaktiriyaṃ mama

Translation

اس دیوی-شکتی کے حصّوں پر اقتدار پا کر روشن ضمیر دِوِج بھی قوت والے بنے؛ اور برہما، ایشان (شیو) وغیرہ دیوتا ظاہر ہوئے۔ یہی میری ہمہ گیر، ہمہ طاقت شکتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• अस्याः: of this (goddess/ शक्ति)
• अस्याः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen.), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेष (contrast/emphasis)

• अंशान्: portions, aspects
• अंशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• अधिष्ठाय: having presided over
• अधिष्ठाय: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having presided over/established upon’

• शक्तिमन्तः: powerful
• शक्तिमन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaktimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); विशेषण

• अभवन्: became, were
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.), परस्मैपद

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• ब्रह्मेशानादयः: Brahmā, Īśāna and others
• ब्रह्मेशानादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmā + īśāna + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘आदि’ अन्त-समास (etc.-ending compound)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• सर्वशक्तिः: the all-power (supreme power)
• सर्वशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen.), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम

Speaker

Primary narrator voice of the Purana (Vyasa/Suta tradition), presenting the theology of Śakti as the Supreme Lord’s power

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Ishana (Shiva)
• Devas
• Shakti (Divine Power)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as possessing an all-inclusive Śakti through which even the highest deities become capable; the One reality is implied as the source, while Śakti is its operative power in manifestation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct practice is prescribed in this verse; it lays the metaphysical basis used later in Kurma Purana yoga-teachings—realization that all capacities (śakti) arise by participation in the Lord’s power, supporting devotion, concentration, and disciplined sādhanā.

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

By naming Īśāna among the empowered gods and calling Śakti “My” all-power, it frames Śiva and other deities as receiving power from the same Supreme source—supporting the Purana’s non-sectarian Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.