Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 35

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

समन्ताद् योजनं क्षेत्रं सिद्धर्षिगणवन्दितम् / पुण्यमायतनं विष्णोस्तत्रास्ते पुरुषोत्तमः

Transliteration

samantād yojanaṃ kṣetraṃ siddharṣigaṇavanditam / puṇyamāyatanaṃ viṣṇostatrāste puruṣottamaḥ

Translation

周囲一ヨージャナにわたり、シッダやリシたちの群れに礼拝される聖なる地が広がる。そこはヴィシュヌの清浄なる聖域であり、至上の御方プルショーत्तマが住まわれる。

Word by Word

• समन्तात्: all around
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परितः/सर्वतः अर्थे (adverb: “on all sides/around”)

• योजनम्: a yojana (measure)
• योजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक

• क्षेत्रम्: sacred field/region
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• सिद्धर्षिगणवन्दितम्: praised by hosts of siddhas and sages
• सिद्धर्षिगणवन्दितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध-ऋषि-गण-वन्दित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (वन्दित = praised); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (सिद्धानां ऋषीणां गणेन वन्दितम्)

• पुण्यम्: holy
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण

• आयतनम्: abode
• आयतनम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• आस्ते: dwells/sits
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पुरुषोत्तमः: Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person)
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पुरुषेषु उत्तमः)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking to sages (contextual narration of a sacred kṣetra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Puruṣottama
• Siddhas
• Rishis

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By naming Viṣṇu as Puruṣottama who “abides” in the holy kṣetra, the verse points to the Supreme Person as the stable, indwelling reality—accessible through sanctified space and purified awareness rather than mere external travel.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and kṣetra-smaraṇa—approaching a sanctified abode with reverence (vandana) and inner purity (puṇya). In the Kurma Purana’s yogic ethos, such pilgrimage supports concentration, devotion, and steady contemplation of the Lord’s presence.

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

Though Viṣṇu is explicitly named, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats the Supreme as one reality approached through multiple forms; reverence by Siddhas and Ṛṣis aligns with a shared Purāṇic vision in which sectarian boundaries yield to the single Puruṣa revered in both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava traditions.