Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53
Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha
पताकाभिर्विचित्राभिरनेकाभिश्च शोभितम् / वीथीभिः सर्वतो युक्तं सोपानै रत्नभूषितैः
patākābhirvicitrābhiranekābhiśca śobhitam / vīthībhiḥ sarvato yuktaṃ sopānai ratnabhūṣitaiḥ
அது பலவகை விசித்திரமான வண்ணப் பதாகைகளால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்டது; எல்லாத் திசைகளிலும் நடைபாதைகள், மாடவழிகள் அமைந்திருந்தன; ரத்தினம் பதித்த படிக்கட்டுகளால் மிளிர்ந்தது।
Sūta (narrator) describing the scene (architectural/royal description within the Purāṇic narrative frame)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
FAQs
This verse is descriptive rather than metaphysical: it portrays an outward splendor (banners, walkways, jewel-stairs) and thus functions as narrative setting, not a direct teaching on Ātman.
No explicit Yoga practice is taught in this verse; it supports the Purāṇic scene-building that often precedes dharma or yoga instruction elsewhere (notably the Upari-bhāga’s Īśvara-gītā).
It does not directly address Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it is a scenic description. The Kurma Purāṇa’s synthesis appears more explicitly in doctrinal sections, not in this architectural verse.