Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Time-Reckoning (Kāla-gaṇanā): Yugas, Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Prākṛta Pralaya

Devanagari script

तावत्संख्यैरहोरात्रं मुहूर्तैर्मानुषं स्मृतम् / अहोरात्राणि तावन्ति मासः पक्षद्वयात्मकः

Transliteration

tāvatsaṃkhyairahorātraṃ muhūrtairmānuṣaṃ smṛtam / ahorātrāṇi tāvanti māsaḥ pakṣadvayātmakaḥ

Translation

ସେହି ସଂଖ୍ୟକ ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତରେ ମାନବ ଅହୋରାତ୍ର (ଦିନ-ରାତି) ବୋଲି ସ୍ମୃତ। ଏବଂ ସେହି ସଂଖ୍ୟକ ଅହୋରାତ୍ରରେ ଦୁଇ ପକ୍ଷଯୁକ୍ତ ମାସ ଗଠିତ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• तावत्: so many/as many
• तावत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक (quantitative), नपुंसकलिङ्गे एकवचनं (agreeing with अहोरात्रम्)

• संख्यैः: by counts/numbers
• संख्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन

• अहोरात्रम्: a day-and-night (one full day)
• अहोरात्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• मुहूर्तैः: by muhūrtas
• मुहूर्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन

• मानुषम्: human (pertaining to humans)
• मानुषम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अहोरात्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• स्मृतम्: is stated/considered
• स्मृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः—‘is said/remembered’

• अहोरात्राणि: day-nights (full days)
• अहोरात्राणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन

• तावन्ति: so many (that many)
• तावन्ति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अहोरात्राणि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मासः: a month
• मासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पक्षद्वयात्मकः: consisting of two fortnights
• पक्षद्वयात्मकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्ष + द्वय + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मासः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic teaching on kāla-māna

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Muhūrta
• Ahorātra
• Māsa
• Pakṣa (Śukla and Kṛṣṇa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly teach Ātman-doctrine; it establishes kāla-māna (human time-reckoning), which the Purāṇa uses as a framework for dharma, vrata, and yogic discipline practiced within measured time.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is stated here; however, by defining day, night, and month, the text supports regulated sādhana—fixed timings for japa, vrata, and observances that later underpin Purāṇic yoga and devotion.

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

It does not explicitly address Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it provides neutral calendrical structure that both Śaiva (including Pāśupata) and Vaiṣṇava observances rely upon within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis.