Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Narmadā-māhātmya: Amarakāṇṭaka, Jāleśvara, Kapilā–Viśalyakaraṇī, and the Supreme Purifying Power of Darśana

Devanagari script

स्तम्भैर्मणिमयैर्दिव्यैर्वज्रवैदूर्यभूषितम् / आलेख्यवाहनैः शुभ्रैर्दासीदाससमन्वितम्

Transliteration

stambhairmaṇimayairdivyairvajravaidūryabhūṣitam / ālekhyavāhanaiḥ śubhrairdāsīdāsasamanvitam

Translation

Estaba sostenida por pilares divinos de gemas, adornada con fulgor semejante al diamante y con joyas vaidūrya (ojo de gato); provista de blancos vehículos finamente decorados, y atendida por sirvientas y servidores.

Word by Word

• स्तम्भैः: with pillars
• स्तम्भैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• मणिमयैः: made of gems
• मणिमयैः: विशेषण (of स्तम्भैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि-मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—मणिभिः मयाः (made of gems)

• दिव्यैः: divine
• दिव्यैः: विशेषण (of स्तम्भैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• वज्रवैदूर्यभूषितम्: adorned with diamonds and cat’s-eye gems
• वज्रवैदूर्यभूषितम्: विशेषण (of गृहं/कर्म, from previous verse context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र-वैदूर्य-भूषित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—भूष् (धातु) + क्त, ‘adorned’; समासः—वज्रैः वैदूर्यैश्च भूषितम्

• आलेख्यवाहनैः: with painted/depicted vehicles
• आलेख्यवाहनैः: करण/सहयोग (instrument/accompaniment describing endowment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलेख्य-वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—आलेख्यं (चित्रकर्म) यानि वाहनानि (painted/depicted conveyances)

• शुभ्रैः: bright/white
• शुभ्रैः: विशेषण (of आलेख्यवाहनैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दासीदाससमन्वितम्: accompanied by maidservants and servants
• दासीदाससमन्वितम्: विशेषण (of गृहं/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दासी-दास-समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—दासी च दासश्च (द्वन्द्व) + समन्वित (सम्-अन्-वी धातु + क्त)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator continuing the descriptive account, traditionally Sūta relating the text to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Vaidūrya
• Vajra
• Dāsī
• Dāsa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by portraying divine splendour and order, it points to a transcendent source of beauty and harmony—qualities traditionally traced back to the Supreme Reality that supports and illumines all manifested forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit technique is stated in this verse; however, such vivid sacred description functions as a contemplative support (bhāvanā)—training the mind toward purity, subtlety, and reverence, which are conducive to Yoga and devotion within the Kurma Purana’s wider teaching.

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

This verse is primarily descriptive rather than theological; within the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, such divine imagery can be read as reflecting a shared sacred majesty that both Śiva and Viṣṇu manifest as aspects of the one supreme reality.