Shloka 14

Meru-Topography: Cities of Brahmā and the Dikpālas; Descent of Gaṅgā; Varṣa-Lotus and Boundary Mountains

Devanagari script

तत्रास्ते भगवान् वह्निर्भ्राजमानः स्वतेजसा / जपिनां होमिनां स्थानं दानवानां दुरासदम्

Transliteration

tatrāste bhagavān vahnirbhrājamānaḥ svatejasā / japināṃ homināṃ sthānaṃ dānavānāṃ durāsadam

Translation

هناك يقيم الإله النار أغني، متلألئًا بتألقه الذاتي—موطنًا لأهل الجَپَا (japa) ولمن يقيمون قرابين الهُوما (homa)، لكنه حصنٌ منيع لا تقدر الدانَڤا (قوى أسورية معادية) على اقتحامه.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक अव्यय/adverb of place)

• आस्ते: sits/dwells
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन

• वह्निः: Fire (Agni)
• वह्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भ्राजमानः: shining
• भ्राजमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्राज् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vahnīḥ)

• स्वतेजसा: by his own radiance
• स्वतेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य तेजः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन

• जपिनाम्: of those who recite (japa-doers)
• जपिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन

• होमिनाम्: of sacrificers (offerers of oblations)
• होमिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्थानम्: a place/abode
• स्थानम्: Visheshya/Predicate (विशेष्य/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (nom./acc.), एकवचन; here predicate nominative with implied 'is'

• दानवानाम्: of the Dānavas (demons)
• दानवानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दुरासदम्: hard to approach
• दुरासदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्-आसद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (उपपद/नञ्-समाससदृश: दुरासद = difficult to approach), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying sthānam)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the tirtha/ritual locus; traditionally conveyed through the Sūta-to-sages frame in Purāṇas)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Vahni)
• Daṇavas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Agni as self-radiant (svatejasā), the verse echoes the Upaniṣadic idea that true spiritual power is intrinsic, not borrowed—suggesting that inner luminosity (ātma-tejas) supports dharmic practice and repels forces opposed to it.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Japa (mantra-recitation) and homa (fire-offering) are highlighted as complementary disciplines: japa refines inward concentration, while homa externalizes surrender through ritual action—together aligning karma and citta toward purity, a foundation for higher Yoga taught across the Kurma Purana’s dharma-yogic framework.

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

Though not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly, the verse supports the Purāṇic synthesis: Agni as a dharmic power upholding tapas and ritual can be read as serving both Vaiṣṇava devotion and Śaiva-Pāśupata discipline, emphasizing unity in the means (dharma, japa, homa) rather than sectarian separation.