Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 173

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

Devanagari script

स्थानेश्वरी निरानन्दा त्रिशूलवरधारिणी / अशेषदेवतामूर्तिर्देवता वरदेवता / गणाम्बिका गिरेः पुत्री निशुम्भविनिपातिनी

Transliteration

sthāneśvarī nirānandā triśūlavaradhāriṇī / aśeṣadevatāmūrtirdevatā varadevatā / gaṇāmbikā gireḥ putrī niśumbhavinipātinī

Translation

她是斯塔内湿瓦丽（Sthāneśvarī），超越凡常之乐；执三叉戟，施愿赐福之手。她是诸天之总体现身——至上女神（Devī），赐福之主。她亦是伽那母（Gaṇāmbikā），山之女，诛灭尼舒姆婆（Niśumbha）者。

Word by Word

• sthāna-īśvarī: mistress/lady of the abode
• sthāna-īśvarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्थानस्य ईश्वरी)

• nirānandā: without (ordinary) joy; beyond pleasure
• nirānandā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir- (उपसर्ग) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-प्रत्ययार्थः—‘without’

• triśūla-vara-dhāriṇī: bearer of the trident and the boon (bestowing power)
• triśūla-vara-dhāriṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: triśūla (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāriṇī (कृदन्त; √dhṛ धारणे, णिनि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—‘dhāriṇī’ (agent noun); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रिशूलं वरं च धारयति)

• aśeṣa-devatā-mūrtiḥ: the embodiment of all deities
• aśeṣa-devatā-mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अशेषाणां देवतानां मूर्तिः)

• devatā: goddess; deity
• devatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन

• vara-devatā: the excellent goddess
• vara-devatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (वरा देवता)

• gaṇa-ambikā: mother of the gaṇas
• gaṇa-ambikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गणानाम् अम्बिका)

• gireḥ: of the mountain
• gireḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), एकवचन; ‘of the mountain’ (Himālaya)

• putrī: daughter
• putrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन

• niśumbha-vinipātinī: slayer of Niśumbha
• niśumbha-vinipātinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśumbha (प्रातिपदिक) + vinipātinī (कृदन्त; √pat पतने, वि+नि, णिनि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—‘vinipātinī’ (agent noun ‘one who causes to fall/slays’); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निशुम्भं विनिपातयति)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) narrating/teaching within the Ishvara-gita framework, incorporating Devi-stuti as part of the integrated Shaiva-Vaishnava vision

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Sthāneśvarī
• Ambikā (Gaṇāmbikā)
• Himālaya (Giri)
• Niśumbha
• Trishula (Śiva’s emblem)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Goddess the “embodiment of all deities” (aśeṣa-devatā-mūrti), the verse points to a single supreme Reality that manifests as many divine forms—an Ishvara-centered non-dual vision where the One appears as the many.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself is a stuti used as devotional concentration (bhakti-yukta dhyāna): meditating on the Goddess as the all-deity form and as the boon-giver aligns the practitioner’s mind toward īśvara-prāṇidhāna, a key orientation compatible with Pāśupata-style surrender and discipline.

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

The Goddess bears Śiva’s trident and is praised within the Kurma/Vishnu teaching context, signaling the Purana’s synthesis: the same supreme divinity is honored through Śaiva symbols and Vaiṣṇava narration, emphasizing unity rather than sectarian separation.