Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Dvīpa-Varṣa Vibhāga and the Priyavrata–Agnīdhra Lineage

Cosmic Geography and Royal Succession

Devanagari script

प्लक्षद्वीपादिषु ज्ञेयः शाकद्वीपान्तिकेषु वै / वर्णाश्रमविभागेन स्वधर्मो मुक्तये द्विजाः

Transliteration

plakṣadvīpādiṣu jñeyaḥ śākadvīpāntikeṣu vai / varṇāśramavibhāgena svadharmo muktaye dvijāḥ

Translation

پلکش دْویپ وغیرہ علاقوں میں اور شاک دْویپ کے سرحدی خطّوں میں بھی، ورن اور آشرم کی تقسیم کے مطابق جو اپنا سْودھرم ہے—وہی دْوِجوں کے لیے مکتی کا راستہ سمجھو۔

Word by Word

• प्लक्षद्वीपादिषु: in Plakṣa-dvīpa and the others
• प्लक्षद्वीपादिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्ष-द्वीप-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्लक्षद्वीपः + आदि)

• ज्ञेयः: is to be known
• ज्ञेयः: Karya (कार्य/Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य); ‘ज्ञेय’—कर्तव्य/ज्ञातव्य (to be known); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अध्याहृतः विषयः)

• शाकद्वीपान्तिकेषु: in the regions near Śāka-dvīpa
• शाकद्वीपान्तिकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक-द्वीप-अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शाकद्वीपस्य अन्तिके)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — emphasis/assurance

• वर्णाश्रमविभागेन: by the division of varṇas and āśramas
• वर्णाश्रमविभागेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण-आश्रम-विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वर्णाश्रमयोः विभागः)

• स्वधर्मः: one's own duty
• स्वधर्मः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य धर्मः)

• मुक्तये: for liberation
• मुक्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (हे द्विजाः)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages/disciples in Purāṇic discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Plakṣa-dvīpa
• Śāka-dvīpa
• varṇa
• āśrama
• svadharma
• mokṣa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames liberation (mokṣa) as approached through svadharma aligned with varṇa-āśrama order—purifying the mind so Self-knowledge can arise, a common Purāṇic bridge between disciplined action and realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named; the verse emphasizes karma-yoga in the Purāṇic sense—performing one’s prescribed duties according to varṇa and āśrama as a disciplined sādhanā supportive of liberation.

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

It does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; its synthesis is thematic—presenting dharma-based purification as compatible with both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva soteriology found throughout the Kūrma Purāṇa.