Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Prayāga-māhātmya — The Greatness of Prayāga and the Discipline of Pilgrimage

Devanagari script

सर्वरत्नमयैर्दिव्यैर्नानाध्वजसमाकुलैः / वराङ्गनासमाकीर्णैर्मोदते शुभलक्षणः

Transliteration

sarvaratnamayairdivyairnānādhvajasamākulaiḥ / varāṅganāsamākīrṇairmodate śubhalakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

സകല രത്നങ്ങളാലും നിർമ്മിതമായ ദിവ്യസൗധങ്ങൾ, നാനാധ്വജങ്ങൾ, ശ്രേഷ്ഠസ്ത്രീകൾ എന്നിവകൊണ്ട് ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ട് ആ ശുഭലക്ഷണൻ ആനന്ദിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• sarva-ratna-mayaiḥ: made of all gems
• sarva-ratna-mayaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘सर्वैः रत्नैः मयः’); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्राय, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifier (of implied ‘vimānaiḥ’/vehicles)

• divyaiḥ: divine
• divyaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्राय, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifier

• nānā-dhvaja-samākulaiḥ: crowded with various banners
• nānā-dhvaja-samākulaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘नानाविधैः ध्वजैः समाकुलः’); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्राय, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• vara-aṅganā-samākīrṇaiḥ: filled with excellent women
• vara-aṅganā-samākīrṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक) + samākīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of sam-ā-kṝ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘वराङ्गनाभिः समाकीर्णः’); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्राय, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• modate: rejoices
• modate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mud (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ātmanepada

• śubha-lakṣaṇaḥ: one of auspicious marks (fortunate person)
• śubha-lakṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘शुभं लक्षणं यस्य सः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the scene; traditional transmission via Sūta to sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead it depicts outward prosperity and auspicious signs, which the Purāṇa often contrasts with inner realization taught elsewhere (e.g., the Ishvara-gītā’s emphasis on the Self beyond sensory delight).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga practice is stated in this verse; it functions as narrative description of splendor. In the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such enjoyments are typically subordinated to dharma and later to disciplined yoga (including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and restraint).

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

This verse is descriptive and does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu; in the Kurma Purana’s overall synthesis, worldly auspiciousness is ultimately meaningful when aligned with devotion to the one Supreme who is praised through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms.