Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

प्रधानपुरुषातीता प्रधानपुरुषात्मिका / पुराणी चिन्मयी पुंसामादिः पुरुषरूपिणी

Transliteration

pradhānapuruṣātītā pradhānapuruṣātmikā / purāṇī cinmayī puṃsāmādiḥ puruṣarūpiṇī

Translation

她超越原质（Pradhāna）与普鲁沙（Puruṣa），却又是原质与普鲁沙的本质。她是太古者（Purāṇī），纯然觉知；对一切具身众生，她是第一因，并示现为宇宙大人之形。

Word by Word

• प्रधान-पुरुष-अतीता: transcending Pradhāna and Puruṣa
• प्रधान-पुरुष-अतीता: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इ धातु ‘अति+इ’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रधानं च पुरुषं च अतीता) — feminine nominative singular adjective

• प्रधान-पुरुष-आत्मिका: whose essence is Pradhāna and Puruṣa
• प्रधान-पुरुष-आत्मिका: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रधानपुरुषयोः आत्मा/स्वरूपं यस्याः) — feminine nominative singular adjective

• पुराणी: the Ancient One
• पुराणी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — feminine nominative singular

• चित्-मयी: made of consciousness
• चित्-मयी: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चित्-स्वरूपा) — feminine nominative singular adjective

• पुंसाम्: of men/of beings
• पुंसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — masculine genitive plural

• आदिः: the beginning; the first cause
• आदिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — masculine nominative singular (used as title/epithet)

• पुरुष-रूपिणी: having the form of Puruṣa
• पुरुष-रूपिणी: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषरूपा) — feminine nominative singular adjective

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pradhana
• Purusha
• Devi (Shakti)
• Ishvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as consciousness itself (cinmayī), beyond the dual categories of Nature (Pradhāna) and Spirit (Puruṣa), yet immanent as their very essence—pointing to a non-dual ground that is both transcendent and all-pervading.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While this verse is primarily metaphysical, it supports Ishvara-centered contemplation in Pashupata-style devotion: meditation on the Supreme as pure consciousness and as the inner essence of both prakṛti and puruṣa—leading the practitioner from conceptual dualities to unified realization.

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

By describing the Supreme as the single source beyond and within all principles, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the ultimate Ishvara (whether approached as Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti) is one reality appearing in multiple divine forms, including the cosmic Puruṣa.