Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

व्यापिनी चानवच्छिन्ना प्रधानानुप्रवेशिनी / क्षेत्रज्ञशक्तिरव्यक्तलक्षणा मलवर्जिता

Transliteration

vyāpinī cānavacchinnā pradhānānupraveśinī / kṣetrajñaśaktiravyaktalakṣaṇā malavarjitā

Translation

她遍满一切而无间断；她入于普拉达那（原初自然）。她是“田知者”（Kṣetrajña，觉知者）的圣力（Śakti），以“不显”（Avyakta）为相，远离一切垢染。

Word by Word

• व्यापिनी: all-pervading
• व्यापिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine nominative singular adjective)

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

• अनवच्छिन्ना: uninterrupted, unbroken
• अनवच्छिन्ना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनवच्छिन्न (प्रातिपदिक; अवच्छिद्-धातु से क्त/क्तिन्-आधारित विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण (feminine nominative singular; ‘un-’ prefixed)

• प्रधान: of Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधान: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद-सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)

• अनुप्रवेशिनी: entering into, pervading within
• अनुप्रवेशिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-प्रवेशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine nominative singular)

• क्षेत्रज्ञशक्तिः: the power of the knower of the field (kṣetrajña)
• क्षेत्रज्ञशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रज्ञ + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रज्ञस्य शक्तिः)

• अव्यक्तलक्षणा: having the mark of the unmanifest
• अव्यक्तलक्षणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (अव्यक्तं लक्षणं यस्याः / अव्यक्तस्य लक्षणा)

• मलवर्जिता: free from impurity
• मलवर्जिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मल + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ज्-धातु क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मलैः वर्जिता/मलवर्जिता)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrajña
• Pradhāna
• Śakti
• Avyakta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents consciousness (Kṣetrajña) as possessing an intrinsic Śakti that is all-pervading, unbroken, and untouched by impurity—indicating a pure, non-material principle that nevertheless pervades and empowers Nature (Pradhāna).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-Gita style contemplation: meditate on the pure, untainted Śakti of the indwelling Knower (Kṣetrajña) that pervades the body-field and also penetrates Pradhāna—helping the yogin discriminate the pure seer-power from material modifications.

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

By describing a single, stainless, all-pervading divine Śakti underlying both consciousness and cosmic Nature, the teaching aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme principle taught by Vishnu (Kurma) is compatible with Shaiva-Pashupata metaphysics.