Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Dvīpa-Varṣa Vibhāga and the Priyavrata–Agnīdhra Lineage

Cosmic Geography and Royal Succession

Devanagari script

यदाधारमिदं कृत्स्नं येषां पृथ्वी पुरा त्वियम् / नृपाणां तत्समासेन सूत वक्तुमिहार्हसि

Transliteration

yadādhāramidaṃ kṛtsnaṃ yeṣāṃ pṛthvī purā tviyam / nṛpāṇāṃ tatsamāsena sūta vaktumihārhasi

Translation

ହେ ସୂତ! ଯେମାନଙ୍କ ଆଧାରରେ ଏହି ସମଗ୍ର ଜଗତ ନିର୍ଭର କରିଥିଲା, ଏବଂ ଯେମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପୂର୍ବକାଳରେ ଏହି ପୃଥିବୀ ଧାରିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା—ସେହି ରାଜାମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂକ୍ଷେପରେ କହିବା ତୁମ ପାଇଁ ଯୋଗ୍ୟ।

Word by Word

• yat: which (that)
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ādhāram: support, basis
• ādhāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; संकेतवाचक सर्वनाम

• kṛtsnam: entire, whole
• kṛtsnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtsna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (idam इत्यस्य)

• yeṣām: of whom
• yeṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• pṛthvī: the earth
• pṛthvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• purā: formerly, in the past
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• iyam: this (she)
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; संकेतवाचक सर्वनाम

• nṛpāṇām: of kings
• nṛpāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; संकेतवाचक सर्वनाम

• samāsena: briefly, in summary
• samāsena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/रीतिवाचक

• sūta: O Sūta
• sūta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• vaktum: to tell
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; ‘to speak’

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• arhasi: you are fit/ought
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

A sage (inquirer) addressing Sūta

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Pṛthvī (Earth)
• nṛpāḥ (ancient kings)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames worldly order as something “upheld” by supports; in Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such supports ultimately depend upon the Supreme Lord/Ātman as the final ground, while kings serve as proximate upholders through dharma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is stated; the verse sets up a dharma-oriented narration. In the Kurma Purana’s wider arc, such accounts of righteous rulers function as practical guidance for karma-yoga and disciplined conduct that supports spiritual life.

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

It does not mention Shiva or Vishnu explicitly; however, the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis often presents righteous governance and cosmic support as ultimately rooted in the one Supreme reality revered as both Hari and Hara.