Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Measure of the Three Worlds, Planetary Spheres, and Sūrya as the Root of Trailokya

Devanagari script

तारानक्षत्ररूपाणि वपुष्मन्तीह यानि वै / बुधेन तानि तुल्यानि विस्तारान्मण्डलात् तथा

Transliteration

tārānakṣatrarūpāṇi vapuṣmantīha yāni vai / budhena tāni tulyāni vistārānmaṇḍalāt tathā

Translation

وأيًّا كانت الأشكال النيّرة هنا المعروفة بالنجوم والمنازل القمرية (تارا ونكشتره)، فإن امتدادها ومقدارها الدائري يُقال إنه مماثل أيضًا لمقدار بُدها (عُطارد).

Word by Word

• तारा-नक्षत्र-रूपाणि: forms of stars/constellations
• तारा-नक्षत्र-रूपाणि: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक) + nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बहुपद): ताराणां नक्षत्राणां रूपाणि = ‘forms of stars/constellations’

• वपुष्मन्ति: having visible form
• वपुष्मन्ति: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vapuṣmant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण ‘having bodies/visible’

• इह: here
• इह: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• यानि: which
• यानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात

• बुधेन: by/with Budha (Mercury)
• बुधेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/3rd), एकवचन

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; निर्देशार्थक सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• तुल्यानि: equal/similar
• तुल्यानि: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमनाधिकरण; object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण ‘equal/similar’

• विस्तारात्: from the extent/diameter
• विस्तारात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• मण्डलात्: from the circle/orb
• मण्डलात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Purāṇic cosmology to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Budha (Mercury)
• Tārā (stars)
• Nakṣatra (constellations)
• Maṇḍala (orb/orbit)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by describing ordered cosmic measures, it implies a cosmos governed by an underlying intelligent principle (Īśvara), within which the Self remains the witnessing reality beyond changing celestial forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct practice is taught in this verse; however, Purāṇic cosmology is traditionally used as a contemplative support (dhyāna) for perceiving cosmic order (ṛta) and cultivating steadiness of mind before higher teachings such as Pāśupata-oriented devotion and meditation.

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

This specific verse is cosmological and does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; in the Kurma Purana’s overall synthesis, such cosmic order is attributed to the one Īśvara revered through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frames.