Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वकिंनराकीर्णं संवृतं सिद्धपुङ्गवैः / भास्वद्भित्तिसमाकीर्णं महाप्रासादसंकुलम्

Transliteration

gandharvakiṃnarākīrṇaṃ saṃvṛtaṃ siddhapuṅgavaiḥ / bhāsvadbhittisamākīrṇaṃ mahāprāsādasaṃkulam

Translation

Ce lieu était rempli de Gandharvas et de Kiṃnaras, et entouré par les plus éminents des Siddhas. Des murailles rayonnantes s’y pressaient, et l’on y voyait une profusion de hauts et grands palais.

Word by Word

• गन्धर्व: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (collective sense; in compound)

• किंनर: Kiṃnaras
• किंनर: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंनर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (collective sense; in compound)

• आकीर्णम्: filled with
• आकीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ√कॄ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘filled/strewn’

• संवृतम्: surrounded
• संवृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+√वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘enclosed/surrounded’

• सिद्ध: Siddhas
• सिद्ध: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (in compound)

• पुङ्गवैः: by the foremost (ones)
• पुङ्गवैः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन; ‘by the best/bulls (among)’

• भास्वत्: shining
• भास्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; (in compound) ‘shining’

• भित्ति: walls
• भित्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भित्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (in compound; ‘walls’)

• समाकीर्णम्: densely filled with
• समाकीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+आ√कॄ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘thickly filled’

• महाप्रासाद: great palaces
• महाप्रासाद: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; प्रासादाः ये महान्तः; (in compound)

• संकुलम्: crowded
• संकुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘crowded/packed’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the setting; traditionally Sūta reporting the sages' discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Gandharva
• Kiṃnara
• Siddha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily descriptive (a scene-setting portrayal of a divine/royal abode) rather than a direct teaching on Ātman; it supports the Purāṇic method of elevating the mind through sacred imagery, preparing the listener for later metaphysical instruction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yogic technique is stated; however, such vivid depictions function as bhāvanā (contemplative visualization) that steadies attention and cultivates sattva—an indirect aid to meditation emphasized across Kurma Purana’s spiritual instruction.

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

The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it contributes to the shared Purāṇic sacred world in which divine realms, perfected beings, and auspicious settings frame teachings that elsewhere present a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.