Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Cosmic Realms Above Dhruva, the Pātālas Below, and the Foundation of Pralaya

Ananta–Kāla

Devanagari script

महातलं च पातालं सर्वरत्नोपशोभितम् / प्रासादैर्विविधैः शुभ्रैर्देवतायतनैर्युतम्

Transliteration

mahātalaṃ ca pātālaṃ sarvaratnopaśobhitam / prāsādairvividhaiḥ śubhrairdevatāyatanairyutam

Translation

Mahātala et Pātāla resplendissent de toutes sortes de joyaux ; ils sont ornés de palais variés, d’une blancheur éclatante, et pourvus de sanctuaires des dieux.

Word by Word

• महातलम्: Mahātala
• महातलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातल (प्रातिपदिक: महा + तल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (and)

• पातालम्: Pātāla
• पातालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• सर्वरत्नोपशोभितम्: adorned with all jewels
• सर्वरत्नोपशोभितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + रत्न + उपशोभित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular agreeing with महातलम्/पातालम्; तत्पुरुष: सर्वरत्नैः उपशोभितम् = adorned with all gems

• प्रासादैः: with palaces
• प्रासादैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural agreeing with प्रासादैः

• शुभ्रैः: bright/white
• शुभ्रैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural agreeing with प्रासादैः

• देवतायतनैः: with temples of deities
• देवतायतनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; तत्पुरुष: देवतानाम् आयतनैः = with temples of deities

• युतम्: endowed with
• युतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular agreeing with महातलम्/पातालम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (endowed/connected)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya) within the Purāṇic description of cosmic geography

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahātala
• Pātāla
• Devatā (gods)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily cosmographical, portraying the splendour of Mahātala and Pātāla; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic view that all realms—high or low—exist within the ordered manifestation governed by the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is taught in this line; it serves as a descriptive passage. In the Kurma Purana’s broader framework, such cosmology supports dharma and contemplation by situating human life within a vast, divinely ordered universe.

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

It does not explicitly mention Shiva or Vishnu; however, by describing devatāyatanas (divine sanctuaries) even in nether realms, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s inclusive sacred geography where multiple deities are honoured within one cosmic order.