Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Measure of the Three Worlds, Planetary Spheres, and Sūrya as the Root of Trailokya

Devanagari script

अक्षप्रमाणमुभयोः प्रमाणं तद्युगार्धयोः / ह्रस्वो ऽक्षस्तद्युगार्धेन ध्रुवाधारे रथस्य तु

Transliteration

akṣapramāṇamubhayoḥ pramāṇaṃ tadyugārdhayoḥ / hrasvo 'kṣastadyugārdhena dhruvādhāre rathasya tu

Translation

車軸の両側の寸法は、二つの半轭（はんやく）の寸法と同じとせよ。車軸は半轭一つ分だけ短く、戦車の堅固な支え（枢軸）に据えられるべきである。

Word by Word

• अक्ष-प्रमाणम्: the axle-measure
• अक्ष-प्रमाणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (neuter nom/acc singular); अक्षस्य प्रमाणम् (measure of the axle)

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचनम् (gen/loc dual)

• प्रमाणम्: measure/standard
• प्रमाणम्: Pradhāna-nirdeśa (विधेय/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (neuter nom/acc singular)

• तत्: of those
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; षष्ठी बहुवचनम् (neuter genitive plural)

• युग-अर्धयोः: of the two yoke-halves
• युग-अर्धयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचनम् (gen/loc dual); युगस्य अर्धे (the two halves of the yoke)

• ह्रस्वः: short
• ह्रस्वः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; प्रथमा एकवचनम् (masculine nominative singular)

• अक्षः: axle
• अक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; प्रथमा एकवचनम् (masculine nominative singular)

• तत्: by that
• तत्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; तृतीया एकवचनम् (neuter instrumental singular)

• युग-अर्धेन: by the yoke-half
• युग-अर्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; तृतीया एकवचनम् (neuter instrumental singular); युगस्य अर्धेन (by the yoke-half)

• ध्रुव-आधारे: in the fixed support (pivot)
• ध्रुव-आधारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; सप्तमी एकवचनम् (masculine locative singular); ध्रुवस्य आधारे (in the fixed support/pivot)

• रथस्य: of the chariot
• रथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; षष्ठी एकवचनम् (masculine genitive singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle; contrast/emphasis)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) relating the Purāṇic instruction of the sages on ratha-pramāṇa (chariot measurements)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva (as dhruvādhāra: fixed/pivot support)
• Ratha (chariot)
• Akṣa (axle)
• Yuga (yoke)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it uses the chariot’s fixed pivot (dhruvādhāra) as a technical image of steadiness: just as the axle must rest on a stable support for right movement, spiritual discipline in the Kurma Purana repeatedly insists on a stable inner foundation (dhruva-bhāva) for right knowledge and practice.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga technique is taught in this verse; it is a pramāṇa (measurement) instruction. Still, the Purāṇic pedagogic style aligns outer order (proper measure, balance, stability) with inner sādhana—echoing the Kurma Purana’s broader emphasis that disciplined structure supports dharma and yogic steadiness.

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

This verse is technical and does not mention Shiva or Vishnu directly. In the Kurma Purana’s overall Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, such cosmographic/ritual instructions are presented as part of a single sacred order upheld by the same supreme reality, whether addressed as Hari or Hara in other sections.