Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

स्तनभारविनम्रैश्च मदघूर्णितलोचनैः / नानावर्णविचित्राङ्गैर्नानाभोगरतिप्रियैः

Transliteration

stanabhāravinamraiśca madaghūrṇitalocanaiḥ / nānāvarṇavicitrāṅgairnānābhogaratipriyaiḥ

Translation

Le corps courbé sous le poids de leurs seins, les yeux roulant d’ivresse, les membres chamarrés de mille couleurs et parures, elles aimaient les jouissances variées et se délectaient des jeux des sens.

Word by Word

• स्तनभार-विनम्रैः: by/with (women) bent down by the weight of their breasts
• स्तनभार-विनम्रैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक) + विनम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-आधारः; तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (instrumental plural adjective)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• मद-घूर्णित-लोचनैः: with eyes rolling due to intoxication
• मद-घूर्णित-लोचनैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक) + घूर्णित (कृदन्त; घूर्ण्/घूर्णय् धातु) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण; घूर्णित = भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• नाना-वर्ण-विचित्र-अङ्गैः: with limbs variegated in many colors
• नाना-वर्ण-विचित्र-अङ्गैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण; नाना = ‘various’ (indeclinable used in compound)

• नाना-भोग-रति-प्रियैः: with those fond of various enjoyments and pleasures
• नाना-भोग-रति-प्रियैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + रति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator, traditionally Sūta conveying Vyāsa’s account to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by portraying the pull of sensual appearances, it implies the Atman is distinct from bodily allure and intoxicated perception; liberation requires seeing beyond such sense-driven modifications.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as a cautionary scene supporting pratyāhāra (withdrawal from sense-objects) and vairāgya (dispassion), foundational disciplines echoed in Kurma Purana’s Yoga-oriented teachings.

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

It does not name Shiva or Vishnu directly; its contribution is thematic—highlighting sense-restraint and inner mastery, values shared across the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis.