Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

स्तनभारविनम्रैश्च मदघूर्णितलोचनैः / नानावर्णविचित्राङ्गैर्नानाभोगरतिप्रियैः

Transliteration

stanabhāravinamraiśca madaghūrṇitalocanaiḥ / nānāvarṇavicitrāṅgairnānābhogaratipriyaiḥ

Translation

സ്തനഭാരത്താൽ നമിഞ്ഞ ദേഹം, മദത്തിൽ ചുറ്റുന്ന കണ്ണുകൾ; നാനാവർണ്ണ-ആഭരണങ്ങളാൽ വിചിത്രമായ അവയവങ്ങൾ—നാനാഭോഗങ്ങളിൽ രതരും രതിക്രീഡയിൽ പ്രിയരുമായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• स्तनभार-विनम्रैः: by/with (women) bent down by the weight of their breasts
• स्तनभार-विनम्रैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक) + विनम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-आधारः; तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (instrumental plural adjective)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• मद-घूर्णित-लोचनैः: with eyes rolling due to intoxication
• मद-घूर्णित-लोचनैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक) + घूर्णित (कृदन्त; घूर्ण्/घूर्णय् धातु) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण; घूर्णित = भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• नाना-वर्ण-विचित्र-अङ्गैः: with limbs variegated in many colors
• नाना-वर्ण-विचित्र-अङ्गैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण; नाना = ‘various’ (indeclinable used in compound)

• नाना-भोग-रति-प्रियैः: with those fond of various enjoyments and pleasures
• नाना-भोग-रति-प्रियैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + रति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator, traditionally Sūta conveying Vyāsa’s account to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by portraying the pull of sensual appearances, it implies the Atman is distinct from bodily allure and intoxicated perception; liberation requires seeing beyond such sense-driven modifications.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as a cautionary scene supporting pratyāhāra (withdrawal from sense-objects) and vairāgya (dispassion), foundational disciplines echoed in Kurma Purana’s Yoga-oriented teachings.

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

It does not name Shiva or Vishnu directly; its contribution is thematic—highlighting sense-restraint and inner mastery, values shared across the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis.