Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16

Narmadā-māhātmya: Amarakāṇṭaka, Jāleśvara, Kapilā–Viśalyakaraṇī, and the Supreme Purifying Power of Darśana

Devanagari script

शतवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गे मोदति पाण्डव / सप्सरोगणसंकीर्णो दिव्यस्त्रीपरिवारितः

Transliteration

śatavarṣasahasrāṇi svarge modati pāṇḍava / sapsarogaṇasaṃkīrṇo divyastrīparivāritaḥ

Translation

ஏ பாண்டவா, அவன் ஸ்வர்கத்தில் நூறு-நூறு ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் மகிழ்ந்து வாழ்கிறான்; அப்சரைகளின் கூட்டத்தால் சூழப்பட்டு, தெய்வீகப் பெண்களால் பரிவாரமாய் சேவிக்கப்படுகிறான்।

Word by Word

• śata-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: for hundreds of thousands of years
• śata-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata + varṣa + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कालावधि (duration) used with modati: 'for hundreds of thousands of years'

• svarge: in heaven
• svarge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• modati: rejoices
• modati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mud (मुद् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāṇḍava: O Pāṇḍava
• pāṇḍava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇḍava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-apsaraḥ-gaṇa-saṃkīrṇaḥ: crowded with groups of apsarases
• sa-apsaraḥ-gaṇa-saṃkīrṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + apsaras + gaṇa + saṃkīrṇa (√kṝ कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'filled with groups of apsarases' (sa- = 'with')

• divya-strī-parivāritaḥ: surrounded by divine women
• divya-strī-parivāritaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya + strī + parivārita (√vṛ कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'surrounded by divine women'

Speaker

Narrator-sage (Purāṇic discourse addressing a Kuru/Pāṇḍava listener)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍava
• Svarga
• Apsarās

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly by contrasting temporary heavenly pleasure with the higher puruṣārtha taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana: svarga is a karmic result, whereas realization of the Self is not a time-bound reward.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga practice is taught in this verse; it describes svarga-phala. In Kurma Purana’s larger framework (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline and Ishvara-centered meditation), such pleasures are treated as inferior to yoga leading to liberation.

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

This verse is neutral on sectarian theology; it presents a common Purāṇic karmic outcome. In the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, both Shiva- and Vishnu-centered dharma can yield merit, while the highest teaching points beyond svarga to moksha.