Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

ये धार्मिका वेदविदो यागहोमपरायणाः / तेषां तत् परमं स्थानं देवानामपि दुर्लभम्

Transliteration

ye dhārmikā vedavido yāgahomaparāyaṇāḥ / teṣāṃ tat paramaṃ sthānaṃ devānāmapi durlabham

Translation

Wer dharmisch ist, die Veden kennt und standhaft dem Yajña und dem Homa hingegeben ist—für den gibt es jene höchste Stätte, die selbst für die Götter schwer zu erlangen ist.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• धार्मिकाः: righteous
• धार्मिकाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण to ये

• वेदविदः: knowers of the Veda
• वेदविदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘वेदं वेत्ति’ (knower of the Veda)

• यागहोमपरायणाः: devoted to sacrifices and fire-offerings
• यागहोमपरायणाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याग + होम + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्व (yāga and homa) + तत्पुरुष with परायण; विशेषण to ये

• तेषाम्: for them / of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेष्य-निर्देश (Demonstrative; subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to स्थानम्

• स्थानम्: abode, place
• स्थानम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: निपात (Emphasis/inclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), निपात (Particle; ‘even/also’)

• दुर्लभम्: hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + लभ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √लभ्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); कृदन्त (past participial adjective) ‘hard to obtain’; विशेषण to स्थानम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages/seekers on dharma and the highest goal

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Devas
• Veda

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to a “supreme abode/state” that surpasses even celestial attainment, implying the highest goal is not merely heavenly status but a transcendent realization/condition reached through dharmic alignment and purified living.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes Karma-Yoga through Vedic discipline—yajña and homa performed with steadfast devotion—presented as a purifying sādhanā that prepares the seeker for the highest state taught across the Kurma Purana’s integrated dharma-and-yoga framework.

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

While not naming Shiva directly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the “supreme abode” is attained through dharma and disciplined worship, a shared soteriology across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths where the highest goal transcends sectarian boundaries.