Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

सप्त वर्षाणि तत्रापि सप्तैव कुलपर्वताः / ऋज्वायताः सुपर्वाणः सप्त नद्यश्च सुव्रताः

Transliteration

sapta varṣāṇi tatrāpi saptaiva kulaparvatāḥ / ṛjvāyatāḥ suparvāṇaḥ sapta nadyaśca suvratāḥ

Translation

وهناك أيضًا سبعة أقاليم (ڤرشا)، وكذلك سبعة جبالٍ عشائرية (كولَپَرفَتَ)؛ تمتد مستقيمةً ذاتَ حوافّ حسنة. وهناك سبعة أنهار أيضًا، يا صاحب النذور الفاضلة.

Word by Word

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable-like before noun)

• वर्षाणि: regions/varṣas
• वर्षाणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; ‘also/even’)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• एव: indeed/exactly
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• कुलपर्वताः: clan-mountains (principal mountains)
• कुलपर्वताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mountains of the clans/lineages)

• ऋज्वायताः: straight and long
• ऋज्वायताः: Visheshana (विशेषण; of mountains/rivers)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋजु + आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (straight and extended)

• सुपर्वाणः: well-peaked/well-jointed
• सुपर्वाणः: Visheshana (विशेषण; of mountains)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुष (having good joints/peaks)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुव्रताः: of good conduct/auspicious (rivers)
• सुव्रताः: Visheshana (विशेषण; of rivers)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुष (of good course/observance)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the Purana’s discourse to the sages (with the verse framed as part of the Kurma Purana’s cosmographical narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jambudvipa
• Varsha
• Kulaparvata
• Nadi (Rivers)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily cosmographical, presenting a sevenfold ordering of the world; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic view that the cosmos is an intelligible, structured manifestation within which dharma and spiritual pursuit (leading to Self-knowledge) can be practiced.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is taught in this verse; it belongs to the Kurma Purana’s geography/cosmology. In the broader text, such ordered descriptions often function as a backdrop for dharma and sādhana (including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and discipline in other chapters).

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

The verse itself does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it contributes to the shared Purāṇic cosmology accepted across Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava traditions, within which the Kurma Purana later articulates synthesis themes more explicitly.