Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Jambūdvīpa Varṣas, Bhārata as Karmabhūmi, and the Sacred Hydro-Topography of Dharma

Devanagari script

चतुर्धारमनोपम्यं चतुस्तोरणसंयुतम् / प्राकारैर्दशभिर्युक्तं दुराधर्षं सुदुर्गमम्

Transliteration

caturdhāramanopamyaṃ catustoraṇasaṃyutam / prākārairdaśabhiryuktaṃ durādharṣaṃ sudurgamam

Translation

มันประหนึ่งป้อมอัศจรรย์มีสี่ประตู พร้อมซุ้มประตูใหญ่สี่ทิศ; ล้อมด้วยกำแพงชั้นนอกสิบชั้น ยากจะพิชิตและยากยิ่งจะฝ่าเข้าไป

Word by Word

• चतुर्-धारम्: having four channels/streams
• चतुर्-धारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या) + dhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: द्विगु ‘चतस्रो धाराः यस्य/चतुर्-धार’ (four-streamed/four-spouted)

• मनः-उपम्यम्: mind-like, comparable to the mind
• मनः-उपम्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + upamya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘उपम्य’ (gerundive/तव्यत्-अर्थ: ‘comparable’); समास: मनः-उपम्य (तत्पुरुष: ‘comparable to the mind’)

• चतुस्-तोरण-संयुतम्: endowed with four gateways/arches
• चतुस्-तोरण-संयुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catus (संख्या) + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-√yuj (युज् धातु) → saṃyuta (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘संयुत’; समास: चतुस्-तोरण (द्विगु) + संयुत (तत्पुरुष: ‘endowed with’)

• प्राकारैः: with ramparts/walls
• प्राकारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन

• दशभिः: by ten
• दशभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या)
• Form: (संख्याशब्द) तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; प्राकारैः इति विशेषण

• युक्तम्: joined, furnished
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (युज् धातु) → yukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with विमानम्); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त

• दुर्-आधर्षम्: hard to assail
• दुर्-आधर्षम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ā-√dhṛṣ (धृष् धातु) → ādharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय ‘दुराधर्ष’ = ‘hard to assail/overcome’

• सु-दुर्गमम्: very difficult to reach
• सु-दुर्गमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + durgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय ‘सुदुर्गम’ = ‘very difficult to approach’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta/Vyāsa lineage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Fortress (Durga)
• Prākāra (ramparts)
• Toraṇa (gateways)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by depicting an “unassailable” stronghold, the verse can be read as an image of inner protection—suggesting that true security is found in a firmly established inner seat of awareness rather than in external defenses.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga technique is stated in this verse; however, Kurma Purana’s later yogic sections often interpret such imagery as inner discipline—guarding the senses at the “gates” and strengthening protective “ramparts” through restraint (yama-niyama) and steadiness of mind.

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

This verse is descriptive rather than theological; it does not explicitly mention Shiva–Vishnu unity. In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such outer descriptions are often complemented by inner teachings where the same Supreme Lord is praised through both Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms.