Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8
Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa
Kailāsa to Siddha Realms
सितान्तशिखरे चापि पारिजातवनं शुभम् / तत्र शक्रस्य विपुलं भवनं रत्नमण्डितम् / स्फाटिकस्तम्भसंयुक्तं हेमगोपुरसंयुतम्
sitāntaśikhare cāpi pārijātavanaṃ śubham / tatra śakrasya vipulaṃ bhavanaṃ ratnamaṇḍitam / sphāṭikastambhasaṃyuktaṃ hemagopurasaṃyutam
Dan di puncak Putih (Sītānta-śikhara) terdapat pula rimba Pārijāta yang membawa keberkatan. Di sana berdiri istana Śakra (Indra) yang luas, dihiasi permata—bertiang kristal dan berpintu gerbang emas.
Narrator (Purāṇic discourse tradition; typically Sūta recounting sages’ dialogue)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This verse is descriptive rather than metaphysical: it portrays the splendor of Svarga and Indra’s jeweled dwelling, serving as a contrast to later teachings where liberation (mokṣa) surpasses even heavenly enjoyments.
No specific yoga practice is taught in this verse; it belongs to a cosmographical description. In the Kurma Purana’s broader arc, such depictions frame why yogic discipline and devotion aim beyond celestial pleasure toward enduring realization.
It does not explicitly address Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it focuses on Śakra’s heavenly realm. The Kurma Purana’s synthesis appears more directly in its devotional and philosophical sections (notably the Upari-bhāga’s Ishvara Gītā).