Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

शक्तयो गिरजा देवी शक्तिमन्तो ऽथ शङ्करः / विशेषः कथ्यते चायं पुराणे ब्रह्मवादिभिः

Transliteration

śaktayo girajā devī śaktimanto 'tha śaṅkaraḥ / viśeṣaḥ kathyate cāyaṃ purāṇe brahmavādibhiḥ

Translation

诸般神力（śakti）即吉利迦女神（Girijā Devī，帕尔瓦蒂），而持有诸力者（śaktimān）则为商羯罗（Śaṅkara）。此一特定分别，由阐明梵（Brahman）者在《往世书》中宣说。

Word by Word

• शक्तयः: Śaktis/powers
• शक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• गिरजा: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गिरौ जाता (born of the mountain)

• देवी: Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• शक्तिमन्तः: power-possessors
• शक्तिमन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti-mant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; possessing power

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रस्तावक अव्यय (particle: then/and now)

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• विशेषः: distinction/special point
• विशेषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• कथ्यते: is stated
• कथ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पुराणे: in the Purāṇa
• पुराणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: by the expounders of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्म वदन्ति ये (those who speak of Brahman)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu), teaching within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Girija (Parvati)
• Devi
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Brahmavadins

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By distinguishing śakti (power) from śaktimān (the possessor of power), it points to an underlying conscious Lord as the basis of manifest energies—an approach used by brahmavādins to indicate Brahman/Iśvara as the ultimate ground behind all functions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-style contemplation where the practitioner meditates on Iśvara as the conscious śaktimān while recognizing śaktis as His operative energies—helping steady devotion (bhakti) and discernment (viveka) in worship and meditation.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita’s synthetic theology, it affirms a Brahman-centered reading: Śiva is presented as the śaktimān with Devī as śakti, while the teaching voice (Kurma/Vishnu) endorses this as Purāṇic Brahman-doctrine—supporting non-contradiction and unity of sectarian forms.