Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

रत्नधारे गिरिवरे सप्तर्षोणां महात्मनाम् / सप्ताश्रमाणि पुण्यानि सिद्धावासयुतानि तु

Transliteration

ratnadhāre girivare saptarṣoṇāṃ mahātmanām / saptāśramāṇi puṇyāni siddhāvāsayutāni tu

Translation

Sur l’excellent mont Ratnadhara, qui appartient aux Sept Sages magnanimes, se trouvent sept ermitages saints, chacun pourvu des demeures des siddhas, les êtres accomplis.

Word by Word

• रत्नधारे: in Ratnadhārā
• रत्नधारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna+dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रत्नानां धारा)

• गिरिवरे: on the excellent mountain
• गिरिवरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri+vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वरः गिरिः)

• सप्तर्षोणाम्: of the seven sages
• सप्तर्षोणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta+ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (सप्त ऋषयः)

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā+ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सप्तर्षीणाम्); कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

• सप्ताश्रमाणि: seven hermitages
• सप्ताश्रमाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta+āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (सप्त आश्रमाः)

• पुण्यानि: holy
• पुण्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (आश्रमाणि)

• सिद्धावासयुतानि: endowed with the dwellings of Siddhas
• सिद्धावासयुतानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siddha+āvāsa+yuta (प्रातिपदिक; √yuj (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (युत = joined/possessed); विशेषणम् (आश्रमाणि)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विशेषार्थक particle)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing a tirtha/kshetra within the Kurma Purana’s sacred geography section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ratnadhara
• Saptarshi
• Siddha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it points to sanctified spaces where perfected beings (siddhas) abide—implying the Purāṇic view that realization of the Self is supported by sattvic environments, rishi-lineages, and dharmic disciplines rather than mere theory.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse signals an āśrama-based yogic culture: living near rishis, practicing tapas, japa, and disciplined conduct in holy hermitages—conditions traditionally linked with siddhi and steady meditation in the Kurma Purana’s broader dharma-yoga framework.

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

By emphasizing siddha-abodes and rishi-āśramas as universally sacred, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: pilgrimage and yogic attainment are not sectarian but support devotion and realization across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams.