Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5
Solar Rays, Planetary Nourishment, Dhruva-Bondage of the Grahas, and the Lunar Cycle
तिर्यगूर्ध्वप्रचारो ऽसौ सुषुम्नः परिपठ्यते / हरिकेशस्तु यः प्रोक्तो रश्मिर्नक्षत्रपोषकः
tiryagūrdhvapracāro 'sau suṣumnaḥ paripaṭhyate / harikeśastu yaḥ prokto raśmirnakṣatrapoṣakaḥ
ଯେ (ପ୍ରବାହ) ତିର୍ୟକ୍ ଓ ଊର୍ଧ୍ୱ—ଦୁଇ ଦିଗରେ ଚଳେ, ସେ ‘ସୁଷୁମ୍ନ’ ବୋଲି ପଠିତ। ଏବଂ ‘ହରିକେଶ’ ନାମକ ରଶ୍ମି ନକ୍ଷତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ପୋଷକ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ।
Traditional Purāṇic narrator (within the Kurma Purana’s cosmological exposition)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
Indirectly: by describing an ordered, sustaining cosmic function (rays that nourish the nakṣatras), the verse supports the Purāṇic view that the universe operates through intelligible, law-like powers—often ultimately grounded in Īśvara, though the Atman is not explicitly defined here.
The term “Suṣumnā” echoes yogic subtle-body teaching (the central channel associated with upward movement). While this verse is framed cosmologically, it aligns with Yoga-śāstra imagery of prāṇa moving upward through Suṣumnā—useful for meditation on inner ascent and disciplined prāṇic regulation.
Not explicitly; however, Kurma Purana commonly presents a synthesis where cosmic governance (rays, channels, nourishment of stars) is an expression of the one Īśvara revered through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava lenses—unity shown through shared cosmological and yogic vocabulary.