Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

हेमगोपुरसाहस्त्रैर्नानारत्नोपशोभितैः / शुभ्रास्तरणसंयुक्तं विचित्रैः समलङ्कृतम्

Transliteration

hemagopurasāhastrairnānāratnopaśobhitaiḥ / śubhrāstaraṇasaṃyuktaṃ vicitraiḥ samalaṅkṛtam

Translation

അത് ആയിരക്കണക്കിന് സ്വർണ്ണഗോപുരങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതും, നാനാരത്നങ്ങളാൽ ദീപ്തവുമായിരുന്നു; നിർമലമായ വെളുത്ത ആസ്തരണങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തവും, വിചിത്രാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ സുസജ്ജിതവുമായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• हेम-गोपुर-साहस्त्रैः: with thousands of golden gateways
• हेम-गोपुर-साहस्त्रैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + गोपुर (प्रातिपदिक) + साहस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; ‘हेममय-गोपुराणां सहस्रैः’ (with thousands of golden gateways)

• नाना-रत्न-उपशोभितैः: adorned with various jewels
• नाना-रत्न-उपशोभितैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + उप-शुभ् (धातु) → उपशोभित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्तान्त विशेषण; ‘adorned with various jewels’

• शुभ्र-आस्तरण-संयुक्तम्: furnished with white coverings
• शुभ्र-आस्तरण-संयुक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्तरण (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘joined with white coverings/spreads’

• विचित्रैः: with variegated (ornaments)
• विचित्रैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• समलङ्कृतम्: fully decorated
• समलङ्कृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-लङ्कृ (धातु) → समलङ्कृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘fully adorned’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the scene; traditionally Sūta recounting to sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it uses sacred aesthetic imagery—radiance, purity, and ordered beauty—to frame a divine setting in which higher teachings about the Self and dharma are later communicated.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is taught in this line; instead, it establishes a purified, auspicious environment (śubhra-āstaraṇa, jewel-like splendor) that supports devotion, concentration, and receptivity—preconditions often assumed in Purāṇic yoga and worship contexts.

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

The verse is architectural and descriptive rather than doctrinal; indirectly, the shared Purāṇic motif of a radiant sacred abode can serve as a neutral, unifying devotional backdrop consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.