Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Cosmic Realms Above Dhruva, the Pātālas Below, and the Foundation of Pralaya

Ananta–Kāla

Devanagari script

विरोचनहिरण्याक्षतक्षकाद्यैश्च सेवितम् / तलातलमिति ख्यातं सर्वशोभासमन्वितम्

Transliteration

virocanahiraṇyākṣatakṣakādyaiśca sevitam / talātalamiti khyātaṃ sarvaśobhāsamanvitam

Translation

விரோசனன், ஹிரண்யாக்ஷன், தக்ஷகன் முதலியோரால் சேவிக்கப்பட்ட அந்த உலகம் ‘தலாதலம்’ எனப் புகழ்பெற்று, எல்லா வகை அழகாலும் நிறைந்துள்ளது.

Word by Word

• विरोचनहिरण्याक्षतक्षकाद्यैः: by Virocana, Hiraṇyākṣa, Takṣaka and others
• विरोचनहिरण्याक्षतक्षकाद्यैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोचन-हिरण्याक्ष-तक्षक-आदि (प्रातिपदिक); components: विरोचन + हिरण्याक्ष + तक्षक + आदि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (list-compound) with आदि ‘and others’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• सेवितम्: inhabited/attended
• सेवितम्: कर्मणि-क्रिया (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेवित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is inhabited/served’

• तलातलम्: Talātala
• तलातलम्: विशेष्य (Topic/Name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तलातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: उद्धरण (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक अव्यय

• ख्यातम्: is known/called
• ख्यातम्: कर्मणि-क्रिया (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) → ख्यात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is known/called’

• सर्वशोभासमन्वितम्: endowed with all splendors
• सर्वशोभासमन्वितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-शोभा-समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक); components: सर्व + शोभा + समन्वित
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास; समन्वित = सम्+अन्वि (धातु) क्त; adjective qualifying तलातलम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing cosmography to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Virocana
• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Takṣaka
• Talātala

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily cosmographical, describing Talātala’s inhabitants and splendour; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic view that all realms—celestial and subterranean—exist within the ordered cosmos upheld by the Supreme (Īśvara), though the ātman-teaching is not explicit here.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga practice is taught in this verse. Its function is descriptive (loka-vyavasthā/cosmology), rather than prescriptive like the Upari-bhāga’s Ishvara Gītā and Pāśupata-oriented teachings.

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

It does not directly address Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it contributes to the shared Purāṇic cosmology in which the same ultimate Lord is understood to govern all worlds, including Talātala, within a unified sacred universe.