Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 158

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

सैषा माहेश्वरी गौरी मम शक्तिर्निरञ्जना / सान्ता सत्या सदानन्दा परं पदमिति श्रुतिः

Transliteration

saiṣā māheśvarī gaurī mama śaktirnirañjanā / sāntā satyā sadānandā paraṃ padamiti śrutiḥ

Translation

她确是大自在女神（Maheshvarī）——高丽（Gaurī）——我无垢的圣力（Śakti）。她寂静、真实、恒常喜乐；《圣闻》（Śruti）宣说她即至上归处。

Word by Word

• सा: she/that (f.)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एषा: this (f.)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; पूर्वपदेन सह ‘सैषा’ (emphatic)

• माहेश्वरी: Maheshvarī (of Maheśvara)
• माहेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम/विशेषण (महेश्वरसम्बन्धिनी)

• गौरी: Gaurī
• गौरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संज्ञा

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शक्तिः: power/energy
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निरञ्जना: stainless/untainted
• निरञ्जना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सान्ता: peaceful
• सान्ता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् धातु-जन्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सत्या: true
• सत्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सदानन्दा: ever-blissful
• सदानन्दा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सदा आनन्दः यस्याः/या) विशेषण

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (पदम्)

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-समाप्तौ (quotative)

• श्रुतिः: scripture/śruti
• श्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Kurma Purana discourse frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvari
• Gauri
• Shakti
• Maheśvara (Shiva)
• Śruti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By identifying the Supreme as nirañjanā (untainted) and sadānandā (ever-blissful), the verse points to the transcendent, pure reality that is realized as the highest state (paraṃ padam), consistent with Vedāntic descriptions of the Self beyond impurity and sorrow.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes contemplative recognition of Śakti as sāntā (peace) and nirañjanā (stainless), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented inner purification: meditation on the deity’s pure nature, withdrawal from defilements, and steadying the mind in the supreme goal (paraṃ padam).

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

Vishnu (as Lord Kūrma) speaks of Maheshvarī-Gaurī as “my Śakti,” blending Shaiva and Vaishnava theologies: the Goddess associated with Śiva is affirmed as the same supreme power acknowledged within Vishnu’s own divine framework, expressing Kurma Purana’s synthesis.