Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Ananta–Kāla

Devanagari script

तत्र नारायणस्यापि भवनं ब्रह्मणः पुरे / शेते तत्र हरिः श्रीमान् मायी मायामयः परः

Transliteration

tatra nārāyaṇasyāpi bhavanaṃ brahmaṇaḥ pure / śete tatra hariḥ śrīmān māyī māyāmayaḥ paraḥ

Translation

Là, dans la cité céleste de Brahmā, se dresse aussi la demeure de Nārāyaṇa. Là repose le glorieux Hari—Celui qui manie la Māyā, qui pénètre tout en tant que Māyā, et qui demeure pourtant le Suprême Transcendant.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• नारायणस्य: of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• भवनम्: dwelling; mansion
• भवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā/of Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive Singular)

• पुरे: in the city
• पुरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• शेते: lies; rests
• शेते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Present Indicative, 3rd person singular, Ātmanepada)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• श्रीमान्: glorious; endowed with Śrī
• श्रीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• मायी: possessing māyā; magical
• मायी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• मायामयः: made of māyā
• मायामयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितार्थ-तत्पुरुषः (मायया मयः = made of/consisting of māyā)

• परः: supreme; transcendent
• परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing sacred/cosmic geography and the Lord’s abode)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Brahma
• Hari
• Maya
• Shri (Lakshmi)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Hari/Nārāyaṇa as both immanent (appearing as the Māyā-structured cosmos) and transcendent (paraḥ), implying the Supreme Self is beyond material appearance while sustaining and permeating it.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While no technique is named, the verse supports contemplative Yoga by directing meditation to the Lord as simultaneously the ground of manifestation (māyā-mayaḥ) and beyond it (paraḥ)—a key discernment used in Purāṇic dhyāna and theistic Vedānta.

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

By stressing the Supreme as both immanent and transcendent, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the highest reality can be praised through multiple divine forms—supporting a non-sectarian, unity-oriented reading consistent with Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony.