Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

सर्वशक्त्यात्मिका माया दुर्निवारा दुरत्यया / मायावी सर्वशक्तीशः कालः कालकारः प्रभुः

Transliteration

sarvaśaktyātmikā māyā durnivārā duratyayā / māyāvī sarvaśaktīśaḥ kālaḥ kālakāraḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

幻力（Māyā）——其自性由一切神力构成——不可抗拒，难以渡越。执持幻力的主、统御诸力的至尊——即时间（Kāla）本身——乃是造作时间的主宰。

Word by Word

• sarva-śakti-ātmikā: consisting of all powers
• sarva-śakti-ātmikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (बहुव्रीहि-सदृश अर्थ but form as determinative: sarvāḥ śaktayaḥ yasyāḥ sā / ‘consisting of all powers’), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of māyā

• māyā: māyā, illusion-power
• māyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• dur-nivārā: hard to restrain
• dur-nivārā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + nivāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada-tatpuruṣa with prefix dur- (दुर्-), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of māyā

• dur-atyayā: hard to cross/overcome
• dur-atyayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + atyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada-tatpuruṣa with dur- (दुर्-), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of māyā

• māyāvī: the wielder of māyā
• māyāvī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + vin (विन्/इन् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘possessor of māyā’ (इन्/विन् प्रत्ययान्त)

• sarva-śakti-īśaḥ: lord of all powers
• sarva-śakti-īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: sarvāṇāṃ śaktīnām īśaḥ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kālaḥ: Time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kāla-kāraḥ: maker/agent of time
• kāla-kāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (karmadhāraya/षष्ठी sense: kālasya kāraḥ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching in the Īśvara-gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Maya
• Kala
• Ishvara (Prabhu)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a supreme Lord (Īśvara) who stands behind māyā and time: māyā is powerful and hard to transcend, yet the sovereign “maker of time” rules over it, implying an ultimate reality that is not bound by temporal change.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

By stressing māyā’s near-irresistible force, the verse supports the Īśvara-gītā’s practical thrust: liberation requires disciplined yoga—steady discrimination (viveka), devotion to Īśvara, and meditative steadiness—so the seeker can cross māyā rather than be driven by time and change.

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

It uses a shared Purāṇic theological language—Īśvara as the Lord of all powers who governs time—compatible with both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frames; the Īśvara-gītā style synthesis treats the supreme Lord (whether named Śiva or Viṣṇu) as the single ruler of māyā and kāla.