Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

Measure of the Three Worlds, Planetary Spheres, and Sūrya as the Root of Trailokya

Devanagari script

त्रिनाभिमति पञ्चारे षष्णेमिन्यक्षयात्मके / संवत्सरमेय कृत्स्नं कालचक्रं प्रतिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

trinābhimati pañcāre ṣaṣṇeminyakṣayātmake / saṃvatsarameya kṛtsnaṃ kālacakraṃ pratiṣṭhitam

Translation

The entire Wheel of Time, the measure of the year, is established—conceived as having three hubs, five circuits, and six rims, and as being of imperishable nature.

Word by Word

• त्रिनाभि: three-naved/three-hubbed
• त्रिनाभि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सम्बोधन/विशेषण-प्रयोगः); here qualifying ‘कालचक्रम्’; ‘having three hubs’

• मति: (as/so)
• मति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इति-प्राय/पदपूरण; here taken as अव्ययवत् (textual/metrical filler)

• पञ्चारे: five-spoked
• पञ्चारे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + अर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘with five spokes’ (पञ्च-अर)

• षष्णेमिनि: six-rimmed
• षष्णेमिनि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् + नेमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘with six rims/felloes’

• अक्षयात्मके: imperishable in nature
• अक्षयात्मके: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of imperishable nature’

• संवत्सरमेय: measured by the year
• संवत्सरमेय: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवत्सर + मेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with कालचक्रम्; ‘measured by a year’

• कृत्स्नम्: entire
• कृत्स्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘entire/whole’

• कालचक्रम्: the wheel of time
• कालचक्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular; समास: कालस्य चक्रम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: is established/set
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/assembly on cosmological time-measurements

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Kāla (Time)
• Saṃvatsara (Year)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the kālacakra as “akṣayātmakam” (imperishable in essence), the verse points to a timeless, enduring principle underlying temporal cycles—echoing the Purāṇic view that the Self/Iśvara remains unchanged while time turns.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No single technique is prescribed in this verse; instead it provides a contemplative framework: meditating on time as a structured cycle (kālacakra) supports vairāgya (dispassion) and steadiness, themes that later mature into disciplined practice (yoga/vrata/dhyāna) in Kurma Purana’s broader teaching.

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

Indirectly: the verse presents a shared metaphysical ground—imperishable reality beneath changing time—compatible with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, where both Śiva and Viṣṇu are taught as expressions of the same supreme principle beyond temporal cycles.