Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Dvīpa-Varṣa Vibhāga and the Priyavrata–Agnīdhra Lineage

Cosmic Geography and Royal Succession

Devanagari script

शाकद्वीपेश्वरं चापि हव्यं चक्रे प्रियव्रतः / पुष्कराधिपतिं चक्रे सवनं च प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

śākadvīpeśvaraṃ cāpi havyaṃ cakre priyavrataḥ / puṣkarādhipatiṃ cakre savanaṃ ca prajāpatiḥ

Translation

پریہ ورت نے شاکَدویپ کا حاکم ہویہ کو مقرر کیا؛ اور پرجاپتی نے پُشکرَدویپ کا سردار سَوَن کو بنایا۔

Word by Word

• शाक-द्वीप-ईश्वरम्: lord of Śākadvīpa
• शाक-द्वीप-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शाकद्वीपस्य ईश्वरः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also particle)

• हव्यम्: Havya
• हव्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• चक्रे: made/appointed
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः ‘अकरोत्/appointed’

• प्रियव्रतः: Priyavrata
• प्रियव्रतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुष्कर-अधिपतिम्: lord of Puṣkara (dvīpa)
• पुष्कर-अधिपतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पुष्करस्य अधिपतिः’

• चक्रे: made/appointed
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सवनम्: Savana
• सवनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• प्रजापतिः: the Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपाधि/संज्ञा (title)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting Purāṇic cosmography to the sages (frame narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Priyavrata
• Havya
• Śākadvīpa
• Prajāpati
• Savana
• Puṣkaradvīpa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily cosmographic and administrative: it describes the appointment of rulers over dvīpas, not a direct teaching on Ātman; it reflects the Purāṇic view that cosmic order (dharma) operates through divinely sanctioned lineage and governance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga practice is taught in this śloka; it belongs to the Purva-bhāga’s geography/creation stream, whereas meditative discipline and Pāśupata-oriented teachings are emphasized more directly in the Upari-bhāga (including the Ishvara Gītā context).

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

The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic synthesis by presenting a divinely ordered cosmos where different divine functions (creation, governance, preservation) operate harmoniously through appointed beings.