Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Bhūrloka-Vyavasthā — The Seven Dvīpas, Seven Oceans, and the Meru-Centered Order of Jambūdvīpa

Devanagari script

मेरोश्चतुर्दिशं तत्र नवसाहस्त्रविस्तृतम् / इलावृतं महाभागाश्चात्वारस्तत्र पर्वताः / विष्कम्भा रचिता मेरोर्योजनायुतमुच्छ्रिताः

Transliteration

meroścaturdiśaṃ tatra navasāhastravistṛtam / ilāvṛtaṃ mahābhāgāścātvārastatra parvatāḥ / viṣkambhā racitā meroryojanāyutamucchritāḥ

Translation

Там, вокруг горы Меру со всех четырёх сторон, простирается Илаврита (Ilāvṛta) шириной в девять тысяч йоджан. В той области, о благородные, есть четыре горы, поставленные как опоры и подпорки Меру; каждая поднимается на десять тысяч йоджан.

Word by Word

• meroḥ: of Meru
• meroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• catur-diśam: (to) the four directions / on all four sides
• catur-diśam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine stem diś; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'towards the four directions/around on four sides' (as extent)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• nava-sāhastra-vistṛtam: spread to nine thousand (in extent)
• nava-sāhastra-vistṛtam: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक) + vistṛta (कृदन्त, √stṛ 'to spread' PPP)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; compound adjective qualifying ilāvṛtam

• ilā-vṛtam: Ilāvṛta
• ilā-vṛtam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ilā (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛta (कृदन्त, √vṛ PPP)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• mahā-bhāgāḥ: O greatly fortunate ones
• mahā-bhāgāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Plural; संबोधन

• cātvāraḥ: four
• cātvāraḥ: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; numeral agreeing with parvatāḥ

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• parvatāḥ: mountains
• parvatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• viṣkambhāḥ: supports/buttresses (supporting mountains)
• viṣkambhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣkambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• racitāḥ: constructed/placed
• racitāḥ: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rac (धातु; 'to arrange/construct') (कृदन्त: PPP क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; PPP agreeing with viṣkambhāḥ/parvatāḥ

• meroḥ: of Meru
• meroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• yojana-āyutam: ten thousand yojanas
• yojana-āyutam: Karma (कर्म/परिमाण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yojana (प्रातिपदिक) + āyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; measure-phrase 'ten-thousand yojanas' used as extent

• ucchritāḥ: lofty/raised
• ucchritāḥ: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√śri (धातु) (कृदन्त: PPP क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agreeing with viṣkambhāḥ/parvatāḥ

Speaker

Sūta (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Ilāvṛta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily cosmographical rather than directly metaphysical; it frames the world-order around Meru as a structured, intelligible cosmos—often used in Purāṇas as a contemplative support for seeing creation as governed by Īśvara’s ordinance (niyati).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga practice is taught in this verse; however, Purāṇic sacred geography commonly functions as a dhyāna-aid—visualizing Meru and the central region (Ilāvṛta) as a stable axis can support steadiness (dhāraṇā) and a sense of cosmic order.

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

The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it contributes to the shared Purāṇic worldview in which the same supreme governance (Īśvara) is expressed through multiple theological lenses, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s broader Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis.