Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 112

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

Devanagari script

निर्यन्त्रा यन्त्रवाहस्था नन्दिनी भद्रकालिका / आदित्यवर्णा कौमारी मयूरवरवाहिनी

Transliteration

niryantrā yantravāhasthā nandinī bhadrakālikā / ādityavarṇā kaumārī mayūravaravāhinī

Translation

她自在无碍、主宰自持，亦安住于有序神力之宇宙机轮。她是难陀尼（Nandinī），吉祥的迦梨迦（Kālikā）。光辉如日，她是鸠摩利（Kaumārī）童贞女神，乘御殊胜孔雀。

Word by Word

• निर्यन्त्रा: unrestrained; free from control
• निर्यन्त्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘निर्यन्त्रः’ (restraintless/free from control) इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• यन्त्रवाहस्था: seated on a chariot/vehicle
• यन्त्रवाहस्था: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यन्त्र + वाहन + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘यन्त्रवाहने स्थिता’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• नन्दिनी: Nandinī (the joyous one)
• नन्दिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (fem. nom. sg.)

• भद्रकालिका: Bhadrakālikā
• भद्रकालिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र + कालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम (fem. nom. sg.)

• आदित्यवर्णा: sun-hued; of solar complexion
• आदित्यवर्णा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदित्य + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आदित्यस्य वर्णः यस्याः’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• कौमारी: Kaumārī
• कौमारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम (fem. nom. sg.)

• मयूरवरवाहिनी: whose mount is a splendid peacock
• मयूरवरवाहिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मयूर + वर + वाहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मयूरवरं वाहनं यस्याः’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita style, enumerating divine names/forms

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Shakti)
• Bhadrakali
• Kaumari
• Aditya (Sun)
• Mayura (Peacock)
• Yantra

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Goddess as both unbound (niryanttrā) and yet the support of cosmic order (yantravāhasthā), the verse suggests the Supreme Reality is transcendent of limitation while also immanent as the power that structures and sustains the universe.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports upāsanā and mantra-japa through name-form contemplation: meditating on Shakti as Bhadrakālī (transformative power) and as Kaumārī (disciplined, luminous शक्ति) aligns the practitioner’s mind with divine śakti—an approach consistent with Kurma Purana’s devotional-yogic synthesis alongside Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

Spoken within a Vishnu (Kūrma)-taught setting yet praising Shakti in forms closely associated with Shaiva-Shakta traditions (e.g., Kālī), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: one Supreme is approached through multiple divine powers and manifestations without contradiction.