Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

किन्तु मोहयति ब्रह्मन् भवन्तं पारमेश्वरी / मायाशेषविशेषाणां हेतुरात्मसमुद्भावा

Transliteration

kintu mohayati brahman bhavantaṃ pārameśvarī / māyāśeṣaviśeṣāṇāṃ heturātmasamudbhāvā

Translation

然而，婆罗门啊，至上女主帕罗梅湿瓦丽确实令你迷惑。她从自性而起，成为摩耶及其一切余下差别相之因。

Word by Word

• किन्तु: but, however
• किन्तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किन्तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक (conjunction: ‘but/however’)

• मोहयति: deludes
• मोहयति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) ‘to delude’

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman
• ब्रह्मन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भवन्तम्: you
• भवन्तम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पारमेश्वरी: the Supreme Goddess (Pārameśvarī)
• पारमेश्वरी: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारमेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपदम् (subject)

• माया-शेष-विशेषाणाम्: of the remaining distinctions of māyā
• माया-शेष-विशेषाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया + शेष + विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative chain); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• हेतुः: cause
• हेतुः: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आत्म-समुद्भावा: arising from the Self
• आत्म-समुद्भावा: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + समुद्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: आत्मनः समुद्भावः यस्य/या; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘हेतुः’ (हेतुः [स्त्रीलिङ्ग-विशेषण-प्रयोगः/पाठभेदः])

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in a Shaiva–Vaishnava framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parameśvarī (Śakti)
• Māyā
• Ātman (Self)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that even Māyā and its many differentiations operate as a power that ultimately originates from the Self (Ātman), indicating the Self’s primacy over delusion and phenomenal distinctions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse points to the central Yogic task of overcoming moha (delusion) produced by Māyā-Śakti; in Kurma Purana’s spiritual discipline, this is addressed through discernment (viveka), devotion to Īśvara, and steady contemplation on the Ātman beyond changing appearances.

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

By framing Parameśvarī (Śakti) and Ātman within a unified supreme principle taught by Lord Kūrma, it reflects the Purāṇa’s integrative approach where sectarian boundaries soften into a shared non-dual theism.