Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

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

Devanagari script

महेन्द्रोपेन्द्रभगिनी भक्तिगम्या परावरा / ज्ञानज्ञेया जरातीता वेदान्तविषया गतिः

Transliteration

mahendropendrabhaginī bhaktigamyā parāvarā / jñānajñeyā jarātītā vedāntaviṣayā gatiḥ

Translation

她是摩诃因陀罗（因陀罗）与优波因陀罗（毗湿奴）之妹；唯以奉爱（bhakti）可亲近。她为至上者，超越高下二相。她当以灵知（jñāna）证悟，超越衰败与老迈，是吠檀多所宣示的究竟归趣。

Word by Word

• महेन्द्रोपेन्द्रभगिनी: sister of Mahendra and Upendra
• महेन्द्रोपेन्द्रभगिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्रोपेन्द्रभगिनी (प्रातिपदिक; महेन्द्र + उपेन्द्र + भगिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपदसमासः (महेन्द्रस्य च उपेन्द्रस्य च भगिनी)

• भक्तिगम्या: attainable by devotion
• भक्तिगम्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्तिगम्या (प्रातिपदिक; भक्ति + गम्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भक्त्या गम्या = attainable through devotion)

• परावरा: both higher and lower; transcendent and immanent
• परावरा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परावरा (प्रातिपदिक; पर + अवर)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (परा च अवरा च)

• ज्ञानज्ञेया: knowable by knowledge
• ज्ञानज्ञेया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञानज्ञेया (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान + ज्ञेया)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञानेन ज्ञेया = knowable through knowledge)

• जरातीता: beyond decay/old age
• जरातीता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जरातीता (प्रातिपदिक; जरा + अतीता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जराम् अतीता = beyond old age/decay)

• वेदान्तविषया: the subject of Vedānta
• वेदान्तविषया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदान्तविषया (प्रातिपदिक; वेदान्त + विषया)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वेदान्तः विषयः यस्याः / वेदान्ते विषयभूता)

• गतिः: refuge, goal, course
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching in the Īśvara-gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahendra (Indra)
• Upendra (Vishnu)
• Vedanta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the ultimate Reality as beyond decay and beyond relative distinctions (para–avara), knowable through liberating knowledge and also approachable through devotion—thus aligning Vedāntic realization with bhakti.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes two complementary sādhanas central to the Īśvara-gītā ethos: bhakti (devotional absorption) and jñāna (discriminative insight). In the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented frame, these culminate in steady contemplation on the timeless Reality beyond jarā (decay).

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

By defining the Supreme Goal as the Vedāntic gatiḥ accessible by both bhakti and jñāna, it supports the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest Reality taught here transcends sectarian labels while accommodating both Vaiṣṇava devotion (Upendra) and Śaiva-Pāśupata contemplative discipline.