Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 141

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

Devanagari script

सदानन्दा सदाकीर्तिः सर्वभूताश्रयस्थिता / वाग्देवता ब्रह्मकला कलातीता कलारणिः

Transliteration

sadānandā sadākīrtiḥ sarvabhūtāśrayasthitā / vāgdevatā brahmakalā kalātītā kalāraṇiḥ

Translation

她恒常安乐、恒常光荣，安住为一切众生之归依。她是言语之主神（Vāgdevatā），是梵（Brahman）的神圣妙艺；她超越一切时间之分段，而诸时间分段亦由她而生。

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• आनन्दा: bliss (as a name/epithet)
• आनन्दा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• कीर्तिः: fame, glory
• कीर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वभूताश्रयस्थिता: situated in/abiding as the refuge of all beings
• सर्वभूताश्रयस्थिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-भूत-आश्रय-स्थित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्थित’ = √स्था (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), ‘सर्वभूतानाम् आश्रये’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पदान्त-व्यञ्जन ‘क्’ (वाक्)

• देवता: goddess, deity
• देवता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मकला: the portion/energy of Brahman
• ब्रह्मकला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्- कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः कला)

• कलातीता: transcending the arts/parts (kalā)
• कलातीता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कला-अतीत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अतीत’ = √इ (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (कलां अतीता)

• कलारणिः: the fire-stick/source of kalā (arts/parts)
• कलारणिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला-अरणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कलायाः अरणिः / कलानां अरणिः)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vāc (Speech)
• Brahman
• Kalā (time/phase)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Supreme as ever-blissful and the refuge of all beings, the verse points to an underlying reality that sustains existence and is not limited by time’s divisions (kalā), a key marker of the Atman/Brahman principle in Purāṇic yoga-theology.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes Vāc (sacred speech) as a divine principle, supporting mantra-japa and contemplative absorption on the source of speech and time—practices aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion where disciplined recitation and inward concentration lead beyond temporal limitation.

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

By grounding divinity in a transcendent Śakti/Brahman principle (refuge of all beings, beyond time), the verse supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu are understood as expressions of the same supreme reality operating through one power.