Shloka 10

Jambūdvīpa Varṣas, Bhārata as Karmabhūmi, and the Sacred Hydro-Topography of Dharma

Devanagari script

तत्र नारायणं देवं विश्वयोनिं सनातनम् / उपासते सदा विष्णुं मानवा विष्णुभाविताः

Transliteration

tatra nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ viśvayoniṃ sanātanam / upāsate sadā viṣṇuṃ mānavā viṣṇubhāvitāḥ

Translation

അവിടെ വിഷ്ണുഭാവിതരായ മനുഷ്യർ വിശ്വയോനി, സനാതന ദേവനായ നാരായണൻ—വിഷ്ണുവിനെ എപ്പോഴും ഉപാസിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

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

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; नारायणम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण/अपपद (apposition)

• विश्व-योनिम्: the source of the universe
• विश्व-योनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘विश्वस्य योनिः’ (source/origin of the universe)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; नारायणम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण

• उपासते: they worship
• उपासते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√ās (आस् धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; नारायणस्य पर्याय/विशेषणरूपेण

• मानवाः: the people, humans
• मानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विष्णु-भाविताः: imbued with Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-भाविताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + √bhū (भू धातु) → bhāvita (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), ‘भावित’ = ‘pervaded/imbued’; समास: विष्णु-भावित (तत्पुरुष: ‘by Viṣṇu imbued’)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana voice, traditionally Suta/Vyasa lineage) describing the devotees’ practice

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling Nārāyaṇa “viśvayoni” (source of the cosmos) and “sanātana” (eternal), the verse presents the Supreme as the timeless ground of all manifestation—worthy of continuous contemplation and worship.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice is upāsanā—steady devotional contemplation. In Kurma Purana terms, it aligns with disciplined mind-fixation (smaraṇa/dhyāna) on the Supreme Lord, supporting yogic steadiness through devotional absorption.

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

While explicitly naming Vishnu/Nārāyaṇa, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats the Supreme Lord (Īśvara) as one reality approached through different forms; thus devotion to Vishnu here can be read as devotion to the same highest principle affirmed in Shaiva-Pashupata teachings.