Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

सुराजहंसचलनैः सुवेषैर्मधुरस्वनैः / संलापालापकुशलैर्दिव्याभरणभूषैतैः

Transliteration

surājahaṃsacalanaiḥ suveṣairmadhurasvanaiḥ / saṃlāpālāpakuśalairdivyābharaṇabhūṣaitaiḥ

Translation

Mit göttlichem Schmuck geziert, bewegten sie sich im anmutigen Gang edler Schwäne; fein gekleidet, von süßer Stimme und kundig in höflicher Unterhaltung und eleganter Rede.

Word by Word

• सु-राज-हंस-चलनैः: with movements like graceful royal swans
• सु-राज-हंस-चलनैः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + राजहंस (प्रातिपदिक) + चलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सु-वेषैः: well-dressed
• सु-वेषैः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मधुर-स्वनैः: with sweet voices
• मधुर-स्वनैः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• संलाप-आलाप-कुशलैः: skilled in conversation and speech
• संलाप-आलाप-कुशलैः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संलाप (प्रातिपदिक) + आलाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative) + कुशल as qualifier

• दिव्य-आभरण-भूषितैः: adorned with divine ornaments
• दिव्य-आभरण-भूषितैः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भूषित) used adjectivally

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator continuing the descriptive passage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hamsa (swan imagery)
• Divine ornaments (celestial adornments)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it portrays sattvic refinement—grace, sweetness of speech, and divine adornment—as outer signs of elevated beings, which later Purāṇic teaching often links to inner purity conducive to Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is stated; the emphasis is on disciplined demeanor and speech (saṃlāpa/ālāpa), a dharmic restraint that supports yogic cultivation of sattva and mental clarity.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it contributes to the Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual atmosphere where refined, sattvic qualities are valued across both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava devotional contexts.