Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

वनं चैत्ररथं पूर्वे दक्षिणे गन्धमादनम् / वैभ्राजं पश्चिमे विद्यादुत्तरे सवितुर्वनम्

Transliteration

vanaṃ caitrarathaṃ pūrve dakṣiṇe gandhamādanam / vaibhrājaṃ paścime vidyāduttare saviturvanam

Translation

తూర్పున చైత్రరథ వనం, దక్షిణాన గంధమాదనము. పడమర వైభ్రాజము, ఉత్తరాన సవితృ (సూర్య) వనం అని తెలుసుకొనుడి.

Word by Word

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• चैत्ररथम्: Caitraratha (forest)
• चैत्ररथम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्ररथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (proper name of a forest)

• पूर्वे: in the east
• पूर्वे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) (दिशा-शब्द), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• दक्षिणे: in the south
• दक्षिणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) (दिशा-शब्द), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• गन्धमादनम्: Gandhamādana (forest/mountain)
• गन्धमादनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + मादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (proper name)

• वैभ्राजम्: Vaibhrāja (forest)
• वैभ्राजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैभ्राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) (दिशा-शब्द), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विद्यात्: one should know/should understand
• विद्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) (दिशा-शब्द), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सवितुः: of Savitṛ (the Sun)
• सवितुः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic teaching in the frame-dialogue; the verse itself is a descriptive śāstra-style statement)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Caitraratha
• Gandhamādana
• Vaibhrāja
• Savitṛ (Sun)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily cosmographic, mapping sacred forests by direction; it supports Purāṇic dharma by orienting the practitioner in a sanctified universe rather than directly defining Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific āsana, prāṇāyāma, or Pāśupata discipline is taught here; instead, it provides a sacred directional framework often used to contextualize pilgrimage (tīrtha) and ritual orientation, which can support dhyāna and vrata practices in broader Kurma Purāṇa teaching.

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

The verse is neutral and descriptive, not explicitly theological; within the Kurma Purāṇa’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, such cosmography functions as shared sacred geography for devotees of both Śiva and Viṣṇu.