Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ तेजसा चातिविह्वलः / भीतः कृताञ्जलिस्तस्याः प्रोवाच परमेश्वरीम्

Transliteration

praṇamya śirasā bhūmau tejasā cātivihvalaḥ / bhītaḥ kṛtāñjalistasyāḥ provāca parameśvarīm

Translation

他俯首叩地礼拜，被她的光辉所震慑而心神摇荡，又因敬畏而战栗；遂合掌恭敬，向那至上女神启言。

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तेजसा: by (her) radiance
• तेजसा: Karana (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अति-विह्वलः: greatly agitated
• अति-विह्वलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपसर्गपूर्वक-तत्पुरुष-प्राय, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सः’ (पूर्वश्लोक) इति विशेषण

• भीतः: afraid
• भीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• कृताञ्जलिः: with hands folded
• कृताञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कृतः अञ्जलिः येन), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• तस्याः: of her / to her (context)
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रोवाच: addressed/said
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमेश्वरीम्: the Supreme Goddess
• परमेश्वरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (परमा ईश्वरी), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

A male devotee/supplicant (contextual interlocutor) addressing Parameshvari (the Supreme Goddess)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parameśvarī

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the seeker overwhelmed before Parameśvarī’s tejas, the verse points to the transcendent majesty of the Supreme Reality—experienced as divine presence that humbles the limited ego and turns it toward surrender.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes devotional discipline (bhakti-yoga) expressed through praṇāma (prostration) and añjali (joined palms), inner reverence that steadies the mind and prepares it for receiving higher instruction.

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

Though this line names Parameśvarī explicitly, the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita framework commonly presents the Supreme as accessible through multiple divine forms; reverence to the Supreme Goddess aligns with the text’s broader non-sectarian synthesis of ultimate divinity.