Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

नन्दनैर्विविधाकारैः स्त्रवन्तीभीश्च शोभितम् / सरोभिः सर्वतो युक्तं वीणावेणुनिनादितम्

Transliteration

nandanairvividhākāraiḥ stravantībhīśca śobhitam / sarobhiḥ sarvato yuktaṃ vīṇāveṇunināditam

Translation

وكانت مُزدانةً ببساتين بهجةٍ على مثال نندنا، شتّى الأشكال، تُجمّلها الجداول الجارية؛ مُحاطةً من كل جانب ببحيرات اللوتس، وتترنّم بألحان الفينا والمزامير.

Word by Word

• नन्दनैः: with pleasure-groves (Nandana-like gardens)
• नन्दनैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (उद्यान/वन), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• विविध-आकारैः: of various forms
• विविध-आकारैः: विशेषण/करण (Qualifier/Instrumental adjunct)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; ‘of various forms’

• स्त्रवन्तीभिः: with flowing (streams)
• स्त्रवन्तीभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्रव् (धातु) → स्त्रवन्ती (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘flowing (rivers/streams)’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शोभितम्: adorned
• शोभितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ् (धातु) → शोभित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘adorned’

• सरोभिः: with lakes
• सरोभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Spatial setting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परितोऽर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘on all sides’)

• युक्तम्: provided with
• युक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘joined/provided’

• वीणा-वेणु-निनादितम्: resounding with vīṇā and flute
• वीणा-वेणु-निनादितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीणा (प्रातिपदिक) + वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + निनादित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ninaadita’ = ‘resounded’; द्वन्द्व (वीणा च वेणुश्च)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing the celestial-like landscape within the Kurma Purana’s sacred geography narrative

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Nandana
• vīṇā
• veṇu
• sarovara (lakes)
• sravantī (streams)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by portraying a perfected, harmonious realm where form (groves, lakes) and vibration (music) are unified, the verse supports the Purana’s broader vision that the sacred world mirrors inner harmony—an allegory for a mind made sattvic and fit for realizing the Atman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes a contemplative environment—watercourses, lotus-lakes, and sacred sound (vīṇā, veṇu)—which aligns with Purāṇic dhyāna supports: calming scenery (śānta-deśa) and refined sound as aids to ekāgratā (one-pointedness), preparing the practitioner for higher Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis teachings elsewhere in the text.

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

Not explicitly; it contributes to the Kurma Purana’s shared sacred aesthetic where divine order is one—such descriptions can be read as a neutral, inclusive sacred realm that later accommodates the text’s non-sectarian (Shiva-Vishnu unity) theology.