Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

विभक्तचारुशिखरः कैलासो यत्र पर्वतः / निवासः कोटियक्षाणां कुबेरस्य च धीमतः / तत्रापि देवदेवस्य भवस्यायतनं महत्

Transliteration

vibhaktacāruśikharaḥ kailāso yatra parvataḥ / nivāsaḥ koṭiyakṣāṇāṃ kuberasya ca dhīmataḥ / tatrāpi devadevasya bhavasyāyatanaṃ mahat

Translation

Dort erhebt sich der Berg Kailāsa, dessen liebliche Gipfel in klar getrennten Graten aufragen—Wohnstatt von Koti um Koti Yakṣas und des weisen Kubera. Dort befindet sich auch das weite Heiligtum Bhavas (Śivas), des Gottes der Götter.

Word by Word

• विभक्त-चारु-शिखरः: with beautifully distinct peaks
• विभक्त-चारु-शिखरः: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभक्त (कृदन्त) + चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) — ‘having peaks that are beautifully separated/variegated’

• कैलासः: Kailāsa
• कैलासः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक/देशवाचक (relative adverb: ‘where’)

• पर्वतः: mountain
• पर्वतः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘कैलासः’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• निवासः: abode
• निवासः: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• कोटि-यक्षाणाम्: of crores of Yakṣas
• कोटि-यक्षाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘निवासः’ इत्यस्य षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)

• कुबेरस्य: of Kubera
• कुबेरस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुबेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

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

• धीमतः: of the wise
• धीमतः: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘कुबेरस्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb: ‘there’)

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

• देव-देवस्य: of the god of gods
• देव-देवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘भवस्य’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-षष्ठी (genitive apposition)

• भवस्य: of Bhava (Śiva)
• भवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• आयतनम्: abode, shrine
• आयतनम्: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘आयतनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice, traditionally through Sūta/authorial narration in the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kailasa
• Yakshas
• Kubera
• Bhava (Shiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by presenting Kailāsa as the cosmic seat of Bhava (Śiva), the verse points to the Supreme as a realized presence—approachable through sacred space and devotion—rather than as a merely abstract principle.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; instead it establishes the sanctity of Kailāsa—an archetypal setting for tapas, dhyāna, and Śiva-upāsanā that elsewhere mature into Pāśupata-oriented discipline and inner worship.

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

By venerating Bhava as “God of gods” within a Purāṇa that also exalts Viṣṇu/Kūrma, it reinforces the Kurma Purana’s inclusive theology—honoring Śiva’s supreme shrine without sectarian exclusion.