Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, 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

Quienes son justos, conocedores de los Vedas y firmemente entregados al yajña y al homa—para ellos existe esa morada suprema, difícil de alcanzar incluso para los dioses.

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.