Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 110

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

Devanagari script

शोभा वंशकरी लोला मालिनी परमेष्ठिनी / त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी रम्या सुन्दरी कामचारिणी

Transliteration

śobhā vaṃśakarī lolā mālinī parameṣṭhinī / trailokyasundarī ramyā sundarī kāmacāriṇī

Translation

女神啊，你是光华（Śobhā）本身；是增盛高贵族裔者；是常嬉戏者（Lolā）；是持花鬘者（Mālinī）；是至上尊主母（Parameṣṭhinī）。你是三界之美（Trailokya-sundarī），可爱而殊丽，随自愿自在行止（Kāmacāriṇī）。

Word by Word

• शोभा: splendour, beauty
• शोभा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वंशकरी: founder/producer of lineage
• वंशकरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वंश-करī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; समासः: वंशं करोति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• लोला: playful; fickle
• लोला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• मालिनी: garlanded one; Mālinī
• मालिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनी: the supreme one; Parameṣṭhinī
• परमेष्ठिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-एष्ठिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: परमा एष्ठिनी (कर्मधारय); सन्धिः: परम + एष्ठिनी → परमेष्ठिनी

• त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी: beauty of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रै-लोक्य-सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: त्रैलोक्यस्य सुन्दरी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); त्रैलोक्य = त्रि + लोक (द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-आधार)

• रम्या: delightful, charming
• रम्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• सुन्दरी: beautiful woman; the fair one
• सुन्दरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कामचारिणी: moving at will; free to act as desired
• कामचारिणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-चारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; समासः: कामेन चरति/कामं चरति इति (तत्पुरुष; ‘at will’)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita section (hymnic praise of the Supreme Shakti/Devi as the power of Ishvara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Shakti)
• Ishvara (as the Supreme Lord whose power is praised)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising the Devi as “Parameṣṭhinī” and “Trailokyasundarī,” the verse points to the Supreme principle manifesting as cosmic power and beauty—suggesting that the highest reality is not merely abstract, but also the sovereign Shakti through whom the Lord’s presence becomes knowable in the worlds.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse functions as nāma-smaraṇa (contemplation through sacred epithets): meditating on these names steadies the mind on the Devi as the Lord’s śakti, supporting bhakti-yoga and inner recollection (smṛti) that the Ishvara Gita aligns with disciplined practice and devotion.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, the same Supreme Ishvara is approached through shared divine power (Shakti). By having Lord Kurma voice praise of the Devi as the sovereign energy, the text bridges Shaiva and Vaishnava devotion through a single ultimate principle expressed as Lord-and-Power (Ishvara–Shakti).