Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, the Sealing of the Cosmic Womb, and the Epiphany of Parameśvara

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

दिव्यां विशालां ग्रथितां ग्रहैः सार्केन्दुतारकैः / मालामत्यद्भुताकारां धारयन् पादलम्बिनीम्

Transliteration

divyāṃ viśālāṃ grathitāṃ grahaiḥ sārkendutārakaiḥ / mālāmatyadbhutākārāṃ dhārayan pādalambinīm

Translation

Il portait une vaste guirlande divine, d’une forme merveilleuse, enfilée des planètes avec le Soleil, la Lune et les étoiles, descendant jusqu’à ses pieds.

Word by Word

• दिव्याम्: divine
• दिव्याम्: कर्मणि विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विशालाम्: vast, large
• विशालाम्: कर्मणि विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ग्रथिताम्: strung, woven
• ग्रथिताम्: कर्मणि विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ग्रथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle)

• ग्रहैः: with planets
• ग्रहैः: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• स-र्क-इन्दु-तारकैः: with the sun, moon, and stars
• स-र्क-इन्दु-तारकैः: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (अर्कश्च इन्दुश्च तारकाः च) ‘स’ = सह (with)

• मालाम्: garland
• मालाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अति-अद्भुत-आकाराम्: of exceedingly wondrous form
• अति-अद्भुत-आकाराम्: कर्मणि विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अद्भुतः आकारः यस्याः) उपपदपूर्वक ‘अति-’ (very)

• धारयन्: bearing, holding
• धारयन्: कर्ता (Agent/Subject, implied)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पाद-लम्बिनीम्: hanging down to the feet
• पाद-लम्बिनीम्: कर्मणि विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + लम्बिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पादपर्यन्तं लम्बिनी)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the divine form; traditionally within Sūta/Vyāsa-style narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Grahas (planets)
• Arka (Sun)
• Indu (Moon)
• Tārakāḥ (stars)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the deity as wearing the cosmos itself (planets, Sun, Moon, stars) as an ornament, the verse signals a Supreme presence that pervades and contains the universe—an Atman/Ishvara whose being is not separate from cosmic order.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit technique is prescribed in this verse; instead it supports contemplative upāsanā (meditative worship) through visualization of the cosmic form (viśvarūpa-bhāvanā), a common aid to concentration in Purāṇic and Yoga-informed devotion.

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

While Shiva and Vishnu are not named here, the cosmic-body symbolism aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: the supreme deity—whether praised in Shaiva or Vaishnava terms—is presented as the one cosmic ground in which all luminaries and powers are unified.