Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Meru-Topography: Cities of Brahmā and the Dikpālas; Descent of Gaṅgā; Varṣa-Lotus and Boundary Mountains

Devanagari script

तत्रास्ते भगवान् वह्निर्भ्राजमानः स्वतेजसा / जपिनां होमिनां स्थानं दानवानां दुरासदम्

Transliteration

tatrāste bhagavān vahnirbhrājamānaḥ svatejasā / japināṃ homināṃ sthānaṃ dānavānāṃ durāsadam

Translation

അവിടെ ഭഗവാൻ വഹ്നി (അഗ്നി) സ്വതേജസ്സാൽ ദീപ്തനായി വസിക്കുന്നു; ജപവും ഹോമവും ചെയ്യുന്നവരുടെ ധാമം, ദാനവർക്ക് അപ്രാപ്യമായ ദുർഗം।

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक अव्यय/adverb of place)

• आस्ते: sits/dwells
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन

• वह्निः: Fire (Agni)
• वह्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भ्राजमानः: shining
• भ्राजमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्राज् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vahnīḥ)

• स्वतेजसा: by his own radiance
• स्वतेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य तेजः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन

• जपिनाम्: of those who recite (japa-doers)
• जपिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन

• होमिनाम्: of sacrificers (offerers of oblations)
• होमिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्थानम्: a place/abode
• स्थानम्: Visheshya/Predicate (विशेष्य/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (nom./acc.), एकवचन; here predicate nominative with implied 'is'

• दानवानाम्: of the Dānavas (demons)
• दानवानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दुरासदम्: hard to approach
• दुरासदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्-आसद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (उपपद/नञ्-समाससदृश: दुरासद = difficult to approach), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying sthānam)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the tirtha/ritual locus; traditionally conveyed through the Sūta-to-sages frame in Purāṇas)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Vahni)
• Daṇavas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Agni as self-radiant (svatejasā), the verse echoes the Upaniṣadic idea that true spiritual power is intrinsic, not borrowed—suggesting that inner luminosity (ātma-tejas) supports dharmic practice and repels forces opposed to it.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Japa (mantra-recitation) and homa (fire-offering) are highlighted as complementary disciplines: japa refines inward concentration, while homa externalizes surrender through ritual action—together aligning karma and citta toward purity, a foundation for higher Yoga taught across the Kurma Purana’s dharma-yogic framework.

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

Though not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly, the verse supports the Purāṇic synthesis: Agni as a dharmic power upholding tapas and ritual can be read as serving both Vaiṣṇava devotion and Śaiva-Pāśupata discipline, emphasizing unity in the means (dharma, japa, homa) rather than sectarian separation.