Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

ततः सा जगतां माता शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी / व्याजहार हृषीकेशं देवी हिमगिरीन्द्रजा

Transliteration

tataḥ sā jagatāṃ mātā śaṅkarārdhaśarīriṇī / vyājahāra hṛṣīkeśaṃ devī himagirīndrajā

Translation

پھر جگت کی ماں، شنکر کی آدھی دےہ والی، ہِمگِری کی بیٹی دیوی نے ہریشیکیش سے خطاب کر کے کہا۔

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘then/from there’

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी: having half of Śaṅkara as her body
• शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + शरीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘she whose body is half (of) Śaṅkara’ (Ardhanārīśvara-form)

• व्याजहार: spoke/uttered
• व्याजहार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• हृषीकेशम्: Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu)
• हृषीकेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीक-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘lord of the senses’ (Viṣṇu)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to सा/माता

• हिमगिरीन्द्रजा: daughter of Himālaya (Pārvatī)
• हिमगिरीन्द्रजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिम (प्रातिपदिक) + गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘daughter of the lord of the हिमगिरि (Himālaya)’

Speaker

Narrator (introducing Devī Pārvatī as she begins speaking to Hṛṣīkeśa/Viṣṇu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devī (Pārvatī/Umā)
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu)
• Himagiri (Himālaya)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by presenting Devī (Śakti) and Śaṅkara as inseparable (half-body), the verse frames ultimate reality as a unified principle where consciousness (Śiva) and power (Śakti) are non-separate—an outlook compatible with the Purāṇa’s integrative theology.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific sādhana is taught in this line; it functions as a narrative hinge introducing Devī’s instruction. In Kurma Purāṇa’s broader framework, such dialogues typically lead into dharma, mantra, and yoga-oriented guidance aligned with Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis.

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

By having Śiva’s inseparable Śakti (the world-mother, Ardhanārī aspect) address Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu), it normalizes a unified devotional universe where Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava divinities interact without rivalry—supporting the Kurma Purāṇa’s harmonizing stance.