Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Jambūdvīpa Varṣas, Bhārata as Karmabhūmi, and the Sacred Hydro-Topography of Dharma

Devanagari script

पूर्वे किरातास्तस्यान्ते पशिचमे यवनास्तथा / ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्य मध्ये शूद्रास्तथैव च

Transliteration

pūrve kirātāstasyānte paśicame yavanāstathā / brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśya madhye śūdrāstathaiva ca

Translation

Im Osten sind die Kirātas; am äußersten Ende im Westen ebenso die Yavanas. Dazwischen leben die Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas und Vaiśyas, und ebenso auch die Śūdras.

Word by Word

• पूर्वे: in the east
• पूर्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative) एकवचन/बहुवचन-रूपम्; दिशि ‘in the east’ (अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः)

• किराताः: Kirātas
• किराताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kirāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचन

• तस्य: of it/of that (island)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्ते: at the border
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘at the end/border’

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचन; दिशि ‘in the west’ (अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः)

• यवनाः: Yavanas
• यवनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यत्वे ‘also/likewise’

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचन

• क्षत्रियाः: Kshatriyas
• क्षत्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचन

• वैश्याः: Vaishyas
• वैश्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘in the middle’ (अव्ययीभाववत्)

• शूद्राः: Shudras
• शूद्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘also’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणे ‘indeed/just’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; conjunction

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a dharmic-geographical description

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kirata
• Yavana
• Brahmana
• Kshatriya
• Vaishya
• Shudra

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly teach Ātman-metaphysics; it frames the dharmic world as ordered by regions and varṇas, a social-cosmic backdrop upon which liberation teachings (yoga, jñāna, devotion) are later grounded.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is stated here; the verse supports Yoga-śāstra indirectly by establishing varṇāśrama-based duties (svadharma), which the Kurma Purana treats as a stabilizing foundation for sādhana such as Pāśupata-oriented discipline and devotion.

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

The verse is primarily socio-geographical and does not explicitly mention Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; in the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such dharma-order is presented as upheld by the same supreme lordly principle revered through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms.