Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 175

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

Devanagari script

अगोत्रा गोमती गोप्त्री गुह्यरूपा गुणोत्तरा / गौर्गोर्गव्यप्रिया गौणी गणेश्वरनमस्कृता

Transliteration

agotrā gomatī goptrī guhyarūpā guṇottarā / gaurgorgavyapriyā gauṇī gaṇeśvaranamaskṛtā

Translation

她超越族姓与谱系；具足吉祥之力，为大护持者。其相幽秘而内在，德行至上。她是高丽（Gaurī），喜爱圣牛及一切与牛相关者；她是高尼（Gauṇī），即“gau”之本义与原则。即使象头主宰伽内湿瓦罗（Gaṇeśa）亦向她顶礼。

Word by Word

• agotrā: without lineage/clan
• agotrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + gotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; नञ्-प्रयोगः—‘without’

• gomatī: possessing cows; rich in cattle
• gomatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gomatī (प्रातिपदिक; go + matup)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्तः—‘possessing’

• goptrī: protectress
• goptrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: goptṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √gup रक्षणे, तृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-तृन्/तृ-प्रत्ययः

• guhya-rūpā: of secret/mysterious form
• guhya-rūpā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (गुह्यं रूपं यस्याः)

• guṇa-uttarā: supreme in virtues
• guṇa-uttarā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयप्रायः (गुणेषु उत्तरा/श्रेष्ठा)

• gauḥ: cow; (also) the goddess as ‘Gauḥ’
• gauḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन

• goḥ: of the cow
• goḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), एकवचन

• gavya-priyā: fond of bovine products (milk, ghee, etc.)
• gavya-priyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gavya (प्रातिपदिक; go-सम्बन्धि) + priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गव्यं प्रियं यस्याः)

• gauṇī: Gauṇī (a name/title connected with ‘go’)
• gauṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gauṇī (प्रातिपदिक; go + aṇī/ṇī)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; नाम/विशेषणरूपेण

• gaṇa-īśvara-namaskṛtā: saluted by Gaṇeśvara (Gaṇeśa) / one who has saluted Gaṇeśvara
• gaṇa-īśvara-namaskṛtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + namaskṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ करणे, नमस्+कृ, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—‘namaskṛta’ (PPP ‘saluted’); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गणेश्वरेण नमस्कृता / गणेश्वरं नमस्कृतवती)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching in the Īśvara-gītā context, presenting Śakti’s epithets as part of the Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gauri
• Ganesha (Ganesvara)
• Shakti (Devi)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the Goddess “agotrā” and “guhyarūpā,” the verse points to the ultimate reality as beyond social labels (gotra) and knowable inwardly—hinting that the supreme principle is not a worldly identity but a subtle, inner truth realized through contemplation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The epithet “guhyarūpā” supports the Īśvara-gītā’s yogic emphasis on inward worship and meditative discernment: the practitioner turns from external markers to inner realization, aligning devotion (bhakti) with contemplative insight characteristic of Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) extols Śakti with names strongly associated with Śaiva tradition (Gaurī) while also affirming her cosmic supremacy (“even Gaṇeśa bows to her”), presenting a non-sectarian hierarchy where Śakti is revered across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frames.