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Shloka 4

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

यावत्प्रमाणो भूर्लोको विस्तरात् परिमण्डलात् / भुवर्लोको ऽपि तावान्स्यान्मण्डलाद् भास्करस्य तु

yāvatpramāṇo bhūrloko vistarāt parimaṇḍalāt / bhuvarloko 'pi tāvānsyānmaṇḍalād bhāskarasya tu

وبقدرِ ما يمتدُّ بهورلوكا عرضًا كاتساعٍ دائريّ، يكونُ بهوفارلوكا كذلك—مقيسًا بالرجوع إلى مَندَلا الشمس، أي قرصِ الباسكر (الشمس).

यावत्-प्रमाणःof as much measure as
यावत्-प्रमाणः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootयावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies भूर्लोकः): ‘of such extent as…’
भूः-लोकःBhū-loka
भूः-लोकः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभूः (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्
विस्तरात्in breadth; as to extent
विस्तरात्:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootविस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी) एकवचनम्; ablative ‘from/with respect to breadth’
परिमण्डलात्from the circumference; from the circular expanse
परिमण्डलात्:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootपरिमण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (5th) एकवचनम्; ablative
भुवः-लोकःBhuvar-loka
भुवः-लोकः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभुवः (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्
अपिalso
अपि:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्ययम्; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक (also/even)
तावान्of that much (extent)
तावान्:
Pradhana-visheshana (प्रधानविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootतावत् (संबन्ध-शब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; predicative adjective with स्यात्
स्यात्would be; should be
स्यात्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd) एकवचनम्
मण्डलात्from the orb
मण्डलात्:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootमण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (5th) एकवचनम्; ablative
भास्करस्यof the Sun
भास्करस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootभास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th) एकवचनम्; genitive
तुindeed
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्ययम्; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक (indeed/but)

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in puranic cosmography

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

B
Bhūrloka
B
Bhuvarloka
B
Bhāskara (Sun)

FAQs

This verse is primarily cosmographical, mapping the relative extent of Bhūrloka and Bhuvarloka; indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic view that the ordered cosmos operates by intelligible measures within Īśvara’s governance rather than random chance.

No direct yogic technique is taught in this line; however, Kurma Purana’s broader teaching uses such cosmic mapping to steady the mind (citta-sthairya) through contemplation of cosmic order (viśva-krama), a supportive practice for dhyāna and īśvara-smṛti.

The verse itself does not mention Śiva-Viṣṇu explicitly; within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such cosmology is presented as a single sacred order upheld by the one Īśvara, honored in both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms across the text.