Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 161

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

Devanagari script

कराला पिङ्गलाकारा नामभेदामहामदा / यशस्विनी यशोदा च षडध्वपरिवर्तिका

Transliteration

karālā piṅgalākārā nāmabhedāmahāmadā / yaśasvinī yaśodā ca ṣaḍadhvaparivartikā

Translation

Nàng là Karālā, mang hình tướng piṅgala vàng nâu; là Đại Ngã mạn phát sinh từ sai biệt của danh xưng. Nàng là Yaśasvinī và Yaśodā; chính là Thần lực xoay chuyển và điều ngự lộ trình vũ trụ sáu bậc (ṣaḍadhvā).

Word by Word

• कराला: terrible, fearsome
• कराला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नामविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• पिङ्गल-आकारा: having a tawny form
• पिङ्गल-आकारा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नामविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/विशेषणसमासः (having a tawny form)

• नाम-भेद-अमहा-मदा: greatly proud through distinctions of names
• नाम-भेद-अमहा-मदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नामविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाम (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अमहा (प्रातिपदिक) + मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (name-distinctions—great—intoxication/pride)

• यशस्विनी: glorious, renowned
• यशस्विनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नामविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• यशोदा: Yaśodā (name)
• यशोदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशोदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name/title)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• षडध्व-परिवर्तिका: the changer of the six paths
• षडध्व-परिवर्तिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—नामविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षड् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक) + परिवर्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षडध्वन्-सम्बन्धिनी परिवर्तिका इति तत्पुरुषः (one who turns/changes the six paths)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (as the teacher of the Ishvara Gita)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Ṣaḍadhvā (sixfold path in Śaiva cosmology)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting Shakti as both the source of “name-differences” and the regulator of the ṣaḍadhvā, the verse implies that multiplicity and cosmic order arise through divine power, while the Supreme remains the underlying reality beyond nominal distinctions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to a key contemplative move in Pāśupata-leaning teaching: seeing “nāmabheda” (mere name-based differentiation) as a cause of delusion/pride, and meditating on the divine governance of the ṣaḍadhvā—i.e., tracing experience back through cosmic categories toward the Lord.

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

Using Śaiva technical language (ṣaḍadhvā) within the Ishvara Gita spoken by Lord Kurma (Vishnu), the verse reflects the Purana’s synthesis: the same supreme divinity is taught through both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva frameworks, with Shakti operating as the shared cosmic power.