Shloka 3

Measure of the Three Worlds, Planetary Spheres, and Sūrya as the Root of Trailokya

Devanagari script

सूर्याचन्द्रमसोर्यावत् किरणैरवभासते / तावद् भूर्लोक आख्यातः पुराणे द्विजपुङ्गवाः

Transliteration

sūryācandramasoryāvat kiraṇairavabhāsate / tāvad bhūrloka ākhyātaḥ purāṇe dvijapuṅgavāḥ

Translation

ஓ த்விஜபுங்கவரே! சூரியன் மற்றும் சந்திரனின் கதிர்கள் எவ்வளவு தூரம் ஒளி பரப்புகின்றனவோ, புராணத்தில் அவ்வளவு வரை பூலோகம் விரிந்ததாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது।

Word by Word

• सूर्य-चन्द्रमसोः: of the sun and moon
• सूर्य-चन्द्रमसोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्रमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th) द्विवचनम्; genitive dual: ‘of the sun and the moon’

• यावत्: as far as
• यावत्: Avadhi (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्ययम्; परिमाणावधि-सूचक (as far as/so long as)

• किरणैः: by rays
• किरणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) बहुवचनम्; instrumental

• अवभासते: shines; illumines
• अवभासते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भास् (धातु) + अव (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd) एकवचनम्

• तावत्: so far; to that extent
• तावत्: Pramana (प्रमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्ययम्; तावद्-यावद् समुच्चय (so much/that far)

• भूः-लोकः: Bhū-loka
• भूः-लोकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूः (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्

• आख्यातः: is called
• आख्यातः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ख्या (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; predicative with भूरलोकः

• पुराणे: in the Purāṇa
• पुराणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th) एकवचनम्; locative

• द्विज-पुङ्गवाः: O foremost of the twice-born
• द्विज-पुङ्गवाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन (8th) बहुवचनम्; vocative

Speaker

Narrator/Sūta-like Purāṇic voice addressing the sages (dvijapuṅgavāḥ)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Chandra
• Bhurloka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames the knowable cosmos (Bhūrloka) by the reach of light, suggesting a measured, describable realm—distinct from the transcendent Self that is not limited by spatial extent.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific practice is taught in this verse; it provides cosmological orientation used in Purāṇic instruction, which supports disciplined contemplation (dhyāna) by situating the practitioner within the ordered lokas.

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

It does not explicitly address Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it presents shared Purāṇic cosmology, a common doctrinal ground on which the Kurma Purana later harmonizes Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava teachings.