Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

सितान्तश्च कुमुद्वांश्च कुरुरी माल्यवांस्तथा / वैकङ्को मणिशैलश्च ऋक्षवांश्चाचलोत्तमाः

Transliteration

sitāntaśca kumudvāṃśca kururī mālyavāṃstathā / vaikaṅko maṇiśailaśca ṛkṣavāṃścācalottamāḥ

Translation

అలాగే సీతాంత, కుముద్వాన్, కురురీ, మాల్యవాన్; ఇంకా వైకంక, మణిశైల, ఋక్షవాన్—ఇవి పర్వతాలలో శ్రేష్ఠమైనవి.

Word by Word

• सितान्तः: Sitānta (mountain)
• सितान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सितान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—सित + अन्त (white-ended/white-peaked)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• कुमुद्वान्: Kumudvān (mountain)
• कुमुद्वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; -वत् प्रत्ययान्त (possessing kumuda/lotuses)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• कुरुरी: Kururī (mountain)
• कुरुरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper name (संज्ञा)

• माल्यवान्: Mālyavān (mountain)
• माल्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; -वत् प्रत्ययान्त (garlanded/with garlands)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ (also/likewise)

• वैकङ्कः: Vaikaṅka (mountain)
• वैकङ्कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper name

• मणिशैलः: Maṇiśaila (jewel-mountain)
• मणिशैलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—मणेः शैलः (jewel-mountain)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• ऋक्षवान्: Ṛkṣavān (mountain)
• ऋक्षवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्षवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; -वत् प्रत्ययान्त (with bears/with stars—name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• अचलोत्तमाः: the best of mountains
• अचलोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—अचलानाम् उत्तमाः (best of mountains)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) relaying the Purana’s geographical catalogue in the Kurma Purana tradition

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sitānta
• Kumudvān
• Kururī
• Mālyavān
• Vaikaṅka
• Maṇiśaila
• Ṛkṣavān

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a cosmographical catalogue of mountains; it does not directly teach Atman-doctrine, but it supports the Purana’s broader vision where the sacred cosmos becomes a contemplative field for recognizing divine order (īśvara-sṛṣṭi) and dharma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga practice is prescribed in this verse. Indirectly, such geographical enumerations function as smṛti-aids for sacred orientation—supporting pilgrimage-mindfulness and disciplined remembrance (anusmṛti), which the Kurma Purana elsewhere integrates with Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis and Pashupata-oriented devotion.

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

It does not explicitly mention Shiva or Vishnu. In the Kurma Purana’s overall framework, sacred geography is shared terrain for both Shaiva and Vaishnava worship, reflecting the text’s integrative (non-sectarian) devotional worldview.