Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa (Genealogy) culminating in Rāma; Setu-liṅga Māhātmya; Continuation through Kuśa and Lava

Devanagari script

तत्राथ निर्जने देशे वृक्ष्मूले शुचिस्मिताम् / अपश्यदमलां सीतां राक्षसीभिः समावृताम्

Transliteration

tatrātha nirjane deśe vṛkṣmūle śucismitām / apaśyadamalāṃ sītāṃ rākṣasībhiḥ samāvṛtām

Translation

その地の人影なきところ、木の根もとにて、彼は清らかなシーターを見た。微笑みなお柔らかく、羅刹女たちに四方より取り囲まれていた。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: 'there')

• अथ: then
• अथ: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक निपात (conjunctive particle: 'then/and')

• निर्जने: in a lonely/deserted
• निर्जने: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—देशे

• देशे: place/region
• देशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• वृक्षमूले: at the root of a tree
• वृक्षमूले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vṛkṣasya mūle)

• शुचिस्मिताम्: with a pure/bright smile
• शुचिस्मिताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci + smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (śuci smitam yasyāḥ) विशेषणम्—सीताम्

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश्/दृश्) (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अमलाम्: spotless/pure
• अमलाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—सीताम्

• सीताम्: Sītā
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• राक्षसीभिः: by/with demonesses
• राक्षसीभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• समावृताम्: surrounded/covered
• समावृताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√vṛ (वृ) (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—सीताम्

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally through Sūta/Vyāsa framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rākṣasīs

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it highlights steadiness of inner purity (amalatā) amid external threat—an ethical prerequisite for realizing the Atman taught more explicitly in the Kurma Purana’s later philosophical sections.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is stated, but the verse foregrounds yogic virtues—śauca (purity), dhṛti (steadfastness), and titikṣā (forbearance)—which form the moral ground for Pāśupata-oriented discipline in the Kurma Purana.

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

This verse is narrative and does not explicitly mention Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it supports the Purāṇa’s broader synthesis by emphasizing dharma and inner purity, shared foundations for both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava yogic paths.