Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Genealogies from Dakṣa’s Daughters: Ṛṣi Lines, Agni-Forms, Pitṛ Classes, and the Transition to Manu’s Progeny

Devanagari script

स्वयोगाग्निबलाद् देवीं लेभे पुत्रीं महेश्वरीं / यथावत् कथितं पूर्वं देव्या माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

svayogāgnibalād devīṃ lebhe putrīṃ maheśvarīṃ / yathāvat kathitaṃ pūrvaṃ devyā māhātmyamuttamam

Translation

凭借自身瑜伽之火的威力，大女神得以迎得女神为其女。如此，正如先前依次所述，天女（Devī）至上的荣耀已被宣明。

Word by Word

• स्वयोगाग्निबलात्: by the power of the fire of his own yoga
• स्वयोगाग्निबलात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + योग + अग्नि + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: स्वयोग (कर्मधारय: स्वः योगः) + अग्नि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: योगस्य अग्निः) + बल (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अग्नेः बलम्) → पञ्चमी: बलात्

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लेभे: obtained
• लेभे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पुत्रीम्: as a daughter
• पुत्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महेश्वरीम्: Maheśvarī
• महेश्वरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; देवी-विशेषण/नाम

• यथावत्: duly; properly
• यथावत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): यथाविधि (duly/as it should be)

• कथितम्: told; narrated
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/वर्णन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचक

• पूर्वम्: previously
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative): पूर्वम् = earlier/before

• देव्याः: of the goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness; glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: supreme; excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; माहात्म्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Sūta/primary narrator voice) summarizing the Devī-māhātmya section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Maheśvarī
• Yoga-agni (yogic fire)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to inner yogic power (yoga-agni) as transformative spiritual potency—suggesting that realization and divine attainment arise from disciplined inner practice, not merely external ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key motif is yoga-agni—“the fire of Yoga,” commonly understood as the heat born of tapas, concentration, and sustained meditative discipline that purifies and empowers the practitioner in Purāṇic Yoga-shāstra contexts.

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

While not naming them directly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: divine power is expressed as Devī/Maheśvarī through yogic potency, aligning with the text’s broader Śaiva-Śākta framework alongside Vaiṣṇava narration.