Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Prayāga-māhātmya — The Greatness of Prayāga and the Discipline of Pilgrimage

Devanagari script

सर्वरत्नमयैर्दिव्यैर्नानाध्वजसमाकुलैः / वराङ्गनासमाकीर्णैर्मोदते शुभलक्षणः

Transliteration

sarvaratnamayairdivyairnānādhvajasamākulaiḥ / varāṅganāsamākīrṇairmodate śubhalakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Entouré de demeures divines faites de toutes sortes de joyaux, foisonnantes de bannières variées et peuplées de nobles femmes, celui qui porte les signes fastes se réjouit.

Word by Word

• sarva-ratna-mayaiḥ: made of all gems
• sarva-ratna-mayaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘सर्वैः रत्नैः मयः’); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्राय, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifier (of implied ‘vimānaiḥ’/vehicles)

• divyaiḥ: divine
• divyaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्राय, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifier

• nānā-dhvaja-samākulaiḥ: crowded with various banners
• nānā-dhvaja-samākulaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘नानाविधैः ध्वजैः समाकुलः’); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्राय, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• vara-aṅganā-samākīrṇaiḥ: filled with excellent women
• vara-aṅganā-samākīrṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक) + samākīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of sam-ā-kṝ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘वराङ्गनाभिः समाकीर्णः’); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्राय, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• modate: rejoices
• modate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mud (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ātmanepada

• śubha-lakṣaṇaḥ: one of auspicious marks (fortunate person)
• śubha-lakṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘शुभं लक्षणं यस्य सः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the scene; traditional transmission via Sūta to sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead it depicts outward prosperity and auspicious signs, which the Purāṇa often contrasts with inner realization taught elsewhere (e.g., the Ishvara-gītā’s emphasis on the Self beyond sensory delight).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga practice is stated in this verse; it functions as narrative description of splendor. In the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such enjoyments are typically subordinated to dharma and later to disciplined yoga (including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and restraint).

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

This verse is descriptive and does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu; in the Kurma Purana’s overall synthesis, worldly auspiciousness is ultimately meaningful when aligned with devotion to the one Supreme who is praised through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms.