Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 50

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

सुगुप्ते सुशुभे देशे गुहायां पर्वतस्य तु / नद्यास्तीरे पुण्यदेशे देवतायतने तथा

Transliteration

sugupte suśubhe deśe guhāyāṃ parvatasya tu / nadyāstīre puṇyadeśe devatāyatane tathā

Translation

よく守られた吉祥の地――山の洞窟、川のほとり、聖なる国土、あるいは神の社殿・寺院の内などに住し、そこで修行すべきである。

Word by Word

• सु-गुप्ते: in a well-protected (place)
• सु-गुप्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग) + गुप्त (कृदन्त; √गुप् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative qualifier)

• सु-शुभे: in a very auspicious (place)
• सु-शुभे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग) + शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण

• देशे: in a place/region
• देशे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• गुहायाम्: in a cave
• गुहायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पर्वतस्य: of a mountain
• पर्वतस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/particle (contrast/emphasis)

• नद्याः: of a river
• नद्याः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तीरे: on the bank
• तीरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पुण्य-देशे: in a holy place
• पुण्य-देशे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुण्यस्य देशः)

• देवता-आयतने: in a shrine/temple
• देवता-आयतने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवतायाः आयतनम्)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय/क्रियाविशेषण (manner; 'thus/also')

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Devatāyatana (temple)
• Parvata (mountain)
• Nadī-tīra (riverbank)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By emphasizing secluded, pure settings for practice, the verse supports the Ishvara Gita’s method: still the mind through disciplined dwelling and worship so the inner Self (Atman), identical with the Lord in realization, can be directly known.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the preparatory discipline (adhikara) for Yoga—choosing a secure, auspicious place such as a cave, riverbank, holy region, or deity-temple—supporting dhyana (meditation), japa, and devotional worship aligned with Pashupata-oriented restraint and purity.

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

By validating both temple worship and yogic seclusion within the Ishvara Gita taught by Lord Kurma, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the one Supreme is approached through complementary Shaiva-Pashupata yogic discipline and Vaishnava devotional orientation without contradiction.