Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 133

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

Devanagari script

सुमालिनी सुरूपा च भाविनी तारिणी प्रभा / उन्मीलनी सर्वसहा सर्वप्रत्ययसाक्षिणी

Transliteration

sumālinī surūpā ca bhāvinī tāriṇī prabhā / unmīlanī sarvasahā sarvapratyayasākṣiṇī

Translation

她花鬘庄严、形相端美；是成有之力，是渡人之救度者，亦是光辉灿烂。她开启觉知，能忍一切，并为一切认知与确证之见证者。

Word by Word

• सुमालिनी: well-garlanded
• सुमालिनी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + मालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘सु-मालिनी’ (well-garlanded)

• सुरूपा: beautiful
• सुरूपा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + रूपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘सु-रूपा’ (beautiful-formed)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• भाविनी: creative; bringing into existence
• भाविनी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाविनी (प्रातिपदिक; √भू (धातु) से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘भविष्यन्ती/भव-कर्त्री’ (bringing into being)

• तारिणी: savioress; ferrying across
• तारिणी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; √तॄ (धातु) से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रभा: radiance, splendor
• प्रभा: विशेषण/नाम
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उन्मीलनी: the awakener; opener
• उन्मीलनी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत् + मीलनी (प्रातिपदिक; √मील् (धातु) से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘उन्मीलन’ = opening/awakening

• सर्वसहा: all-enduring
• सर्वसहा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सहा (प्रातिपदिक; √सह् (धातु) से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वं सहते इति’ (all-enduring)

• सर्वप्रत्ययसाक्षिणी: witness of all mental certainties/cognitions
• सर्वप्रत्ययसाक्षिणी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + प्रत्यय + साक्षिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वेषां प्रत्ययानां साक्षिणी’ (witness of all cognitions/convictions)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the Ishvara Gita to the sages (Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Shakti)
• Ishvara
• Pratyaya (cognition)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Her “sarva-pratyaya-sākṣiṇī,” the verse points to the innermost witnessing consciousness that illumines every thought, certainty, and mental state—an Atman-like principle that remains present while cognitions arise and pass.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports contemplative Yoga by directing attention to the inner “witness of cognitions” and to the “unmīlanī” power that awakens awareness—key contemplations aligned with Pashupata-oriented meditation on Ishvara-Shakti as the luminous ground of mind.

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

In the Ishvara Gita setting, Lord Kurma teaches a Shakti-centered theology compatible with Shaiva metaphysics (Ishvara-Shakti, witness-consciousness) while voiced by Vishnu—presenting a non-sectarian synthesis where the same Supreme Reality is praised across Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms.