Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 151

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

Devanagari script

भारती परमानन्दा परापरविभेदिका / सर्वप्रहरणोपेता काम्या कामेश्वरेश्वरी

Transliteration

bhāratī paramānandā parāparavibhedikā / sarvapraharaṇopetā kāmyā kāmeśvareśvarī

Translation

她是婆罗底（Vāc/萨拉斯瓦蒂），至上的大乐；能分辨高与下诸实相。具足一切兵器与威力，她是众所祈愿的赐福者——迦梅湿伐罗的至尊女主。

Word by Word

• भारती: Bhāratī (goddess of speech)
• भारती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परम-आनन्दा: supremely blissful
• परम-आनन्दा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (the supreme blissful one)

• परा-अपर-विभेदिका: discriminator of the higher and the lower
• परा-अपर-विभेदिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक) + अपर (प्रातिपदिक) + विभेदिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परापरयोः विभेदिका = distinguisher of higher and lower)

• सर्व-प्रहरण-उपेता: endowed with all weapons
• सर्व-प्रहरण-उपेता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहरण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (कृदन्त, √इ/ए ‘to go’ + उप-; past participle)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (सर्वैः प्रहरणैः उपेता = endowed with all weapons)

• काम्या: desirable
• काम्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (desirable)

• कामेश्वर-ईश्वरी: the sovereign goddess of Kāmeśvara
• कामेश्वर-ईश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कामेश्वरस्य ईश्वरी = Lady of Kāmeśvara)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhāratī (Vāc/Sarasvatī)
• Kāmeśvara
• Īśvarī (the Goddess/Śakti)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Supreme as Paramānanda (supreme bliss) and as the power that discriminates parā and aparā, the verse implies that liberation comes through right discernment (viveka) guided by the supreme Śakti—leading the self beyond lower appearances to the highest reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes viveka (discrimination of higher vs. lower) and mantra-oriented devotion to the Goddess as Bhāratī (Vāc). In Ishvara-Gita-style teaching, such discernment and mantra-bhakti support Pāśupata-aligned inner discipline: steadiness, purification, and single-pointed contemplation of the Supreme.

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

Spoken in a Vishnu/Kūrma-led discourse yet praising the supreme Īśvarī connected with Kāmeśvara (a Śaiva epithet), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: one Supreme Reality expressed as Śiva-Śakti while taught through a Vaiṣṇava voice.