Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 179

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

Devanagari script

त्रितत्त्वमाता त्रिविधा सुसूक्ष्मपदसंश्रया / शान्त्यतीता मलातीता निर्विकारा निराश्रया

Transliteration

tritattvamātā trividhā susūkṣmapadasaṃśrayā / śāntyatītā malātītā nirvikārā nirāśrayā

Translation

她是三种本原（tattva）之母，三相显现，安住于至微至妙之境。她超越乃至“寂静”，越过一切垢染，不变不动，亦不依于任何所缘。

Word by Word

• त्रितत्त्वमाता: mother of the three principles
• त्रितत्त्वमाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + तत्त्व + माता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्रीणां तत्त्वानां माता)

• त्रिविधा: threefold
• त्रिविधा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु/तत्पुरुषार्थः (त्रयः विधाः यस्याः/या)

• सुसूक्ष्मपदसंश्रया: resting in the very subtle state
• सुसूक्ष्मपदसंश्रया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सूक्ष्म + पद + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुसूक्ष्मे पदे संश्रया—resting in the very subtle state/footing)

• शान्ति-अतीता: beyond peace
• शान्ति-अतीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्ति + अतीत (कृदन्त; √इ गतौ with अति-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘अतीत’ = gone beyond; तत्पुरुषः (शान्तिं अतीता)

• मल-अतीता: beyond impurity
• मल-अतीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मल + अतीत (कृदन्त; √इ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मलं अतीता)

• निर्विकारा: unchanging; without transformation
• निर्विकारा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग/निपातपूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक (nirvikāra = without modification)

• निराश्रया: supportless; independent
• निराश्रया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्-उपसर्गः (without support)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Ishvara Gita
• Shakti
• Brahman
• Pashupata Yoga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the ultimate reality as supremely subtle, beyond impurity and all change, and utterly independent—pointing to the Self as nirvikāra (unchanging) and nirāśraya (self-established), not contingent on any external support.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Pashupata-style inward contemplation on the ‘susūkṣma pada’—meditating beyond even sattvic tranquility (śānti) into the subtle ground of consciousness, where impurities (mala) and mental modifications cease.

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

By describing the supreme principle in shared Shaiva-Vaishnava technical language—beyond mala, changeless, and subtle—it aligns Ishvara as one non-dual reality taught by Kurma (Vishnu) in a manner resonant with Shaiva metaphysics, reinforcing unity rather than sectarian difference.