Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Solar Rays, Planetary Nourishment, Dhruva-Bondage of the Grahas, and the Lunar Cycle

Devanagari script

ओषधीषु बलं धत्ते स्वधामपि पितृष्वथ / सूर्यो ऽमरत्वममृते त्रयं त्रिषु नियच्छति

Transliteration

oṣadhīṣu balaṃ dhatte svadhāmapi pitṛṣvatha / sūryo 'maratvamamṛte trayaṃ triṣu niyacchati

Translation

彼は薬草のうちに力を宿し、また祖霊ピトリたちの間に「スヴァダー」と名づける供献を定める。太陽はアムリタによって不死を保ち、かくして三界にわたり三つの原理を統御する。

Word by Word

• oṣadhīṣu: in the herbs
• oṣadhīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṣadhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• balaṃ: strength
• balaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• dhatte: places/puts
• dhatte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• sva-dhāma: his own abode
• sva-dhāma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāman (धामन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'own abode'

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि = 'also'

• pitṛṣu: among the Pitṛs/ancestors
• pitṛṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (पितृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• atha: then/further
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (discourse particle), अनन्तरार्थे = 'then/and further'

• sūryaḥ: the Sun
• sūryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• amaratvam: immortality
• amaratvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amaratva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• amṛte: in the nectar (amṛta)
• amṛte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• trayam: the triad/three (things)
• trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular; collective 'threefold set'

• triṣu: in the three (places)
• triṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (त्रि) बहुवचनार्थे, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• niyacchati: restrains/assigns/controls
• niyacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√yam (यम् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada; उपसर्ग: नि-

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing in Purāṇic cosmology and dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Pitrs
• Svadhā
• Amṛta
• Oṣadhis

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By showing one governing intelligence that distributes power (bala), ritual nourishment (svadhā), and immortality (amaratva) through cosmic agencies like Sūrya and Amṛta, the verse implies an underlying, ordered sovereignty consistent with the Purāṇic vision of the Self as the inner regulator (antaryāmin).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse is not a direct yoga-instruction, but it supports a yogic worldview: the cosmos is disciplined by niyama (regulation). In Kurma Purana’s spiritual frame, such insight strengthens sāttvika living—yajña, śrāddha for Pitṛs, and reverence for Sūrya—preparing the mind for dhyāna and the Pāśupata-oriented inner discipline taught elsewhere.

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

Though Śiva is not named, the verse reflects the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: a single divine order operates through multiple forms and functions (Sūrya, Pitṛs, Amṛta). This harmonizes with the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching that the supreme governance can be approached through both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva theological languages.