Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

विभक्तचारुशिखरः कैलासो यत्र पर्वतः / निवासः कोटियक्षाणां कुबेरस्य च धीमतः / तत्रापि देवदेवस्य भवस्यायतनं महत्

Transliteration

vibhaktacāruśikharaḥ kailāso yatra parvataḥ / nivāsaḥ koṭiyakṣāṇāṃ kuberasya ca dhīmataḥ / tatrāpi devadevasya bhavasyāyatanaṃ mahat

Translation

ที่ซึ่งเขาไกรลาสตั้งตระหง่านด้วยยอดงามแยกเป็นสันชั้นต่าง ๆ นั้น เป็นที่พำนักของยักษ์นับโกฏิและท้าวกุเบรผู้ทรงปัญญา; ณ ที่นั้นเองยังมีมหาสถานศักดิ์สิทธิ์อันกว้างใหญ่ของภวะ (พระศิวะ) เทวะเหนือเทวะทั้งปวงด้วย।

Word by Word

• विभक्त-चारु-शिखरः: with beautifully distinct peaks
• विभक्त-चारु-शिखरः: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभक्त (कृदन्त) + चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) — ‘having peaks that are beautifully separated/variegated’

• कैलासः: Kailāsa
• कैलासः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक/देशवाचक (relative adverb: ‘where’)

• पर्वतः: mountain
• पर्वतः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘कैलासः’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• निवासः: abode
• निवासः: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• कोटि-यक्षाणाम्: of crores of Yakṣas
• कोटि-यक्षाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘निवासः’ इत्यस्य षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)

• कुबेरस्य: of Kubera
• कुबेरस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुबेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• धीमतः: of the wise
• धीमतः: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘कुबेरस्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb: ‘there’)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (particle: ‘also/even’)

• देव-देवस्य: of the god of gods
• देव-देवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘भवस्य’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-षष्ठी (genitive apposition)

• भवस्य: of Bhava (Śiva)
• भवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• आयतनम्: abode, shrine
• आयतनम्: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘आयतनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice, traditionally through Sūta/authorial narration in the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kailasa
• Yakshas
• Kubera
• Bhava (Shiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by presenting Kailāsa as the cosmic seat of Bhava (Śiva), the verse points to the Supreme as a realized presence—approachable through sacred space and devotion—rather than as a merely abstract principle.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; instead it establishes the sanctity of Kailāsa—an archetypal setting for tapas, dhyāna, and Śiva-upāsanā that elsewhere mature into Pāśupata-oriented discipline and inner worship.

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

By venerating Bhava as “God of gods” within a Purāṇa that also exalts Viṣṇu/Kūrma, it reinforces the Kurma Purana’s inclusive theology—honoring Śiva’s supreme shrine without sectarian exclusion.