Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 115

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

Devanagari script

विरूपाक्षी लेलिहाना महापुरनिवासिनी / महाफलानवद्याङ्गी कामपूरा विभावरी

Transliteration

virūpākṣī lelihānā mahāpuranivāsinī / mahāphalānavadyāṅgī kāmapūrā vibhāvarī

Translation

她具奇妙多重之眼；为吞尽万有之力；为居于至上圣城之大古者；她赐予广大果报，身分无瑕，圆满诸愿——她即光耀之夜。

Word by Word

• विरूपाक्षी: having strange/varied eyes
• विरूपाक्षी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्याः’/‘विरूपाक्षयुक्ता’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• लेलिहाना: licking (repeatedly)
• लेलिहाना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिह् (धातु) + शानच्/आन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्तः (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (fem. nom. sg.)

• महापुरनिवासिनी: dwelling in the great city
• महापुरनिवासिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + पुर + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘महापुरे निवसति’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• महाफला: great-fruited; bestowing great results
• महाफला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महान् + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘महद् फलम् यस्याः’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• अनवद्याङ्गी: of flawless limbs
• अनवद्याङ्गी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनवद्य + अङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अनवद्यानि अङ्गानि यस्याः’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• कामपूरा: fulfiller of desires
• कामपूरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + पूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कामान् पूरयति’ इति (fem. nom. sg.)

• विभावरी: Vibhāvarī; the night
• विभावरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभावरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘रात्रिः’ इत्यर्थे/देवी-नाम (fem. nom. sg.)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita context, presenting a Devi-stuti aligned with Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Shakti)
• Ishvara (as the supreme Lord)
• Kurma (as narrator/speaker context)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Devi as both transcendent (dwelling in the supreme abode) and immanent (the devouring power and the night that pervades beings), the verse points to the one Reality that functions as cosmic power while remaining perfect and faultless in essence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports mantra-yoga and upāsanā through nāma-smaraṇa (recitation/contemplation of divine epithets), promising “great fruits” and inner steadiness by meditating on Shakti as the power that consumes impurities and fulfills righteous intentions.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita’s non-sectarian frame, Devi/Shakti is praised as the supreme power honored by both Shaiva and Vaishnava streams—suggesting unity of divine principles rather than rivalry, with Kurma (Vishnu) teaching a synthesis-friendly stotra.