Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Measure of the Three Worlds, Planetary Spheres, and Sūrya as the Root of Trailokya

Devanagari script

सौरिर्द्विलक्षेण गुरोर् ग्रहाणामथ मण्डलम् / सप्तर्षिमण्डलं तस्माल्लक्षमात्रे प्रिकाशते

Transliteration

saurirdvilakṣeṇa guror grahāṇāmatha maṇḍalam / saptarṣimaṇḍalaṃ tasmāllakṣamātre prikāśate

Translation

گُرو کے منڈل سے دو لاکھ آگے شَوری (زحل) سیّاروں کے منڈل میں واقع ہے۔ اور اس سے ایک لاکھ آگے سَپتَرشِی منڈل روشن ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• सौरिः: Saturn (Sauri)
• सौरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्वि-लक्षेण: by/at two lakhs
• द्वि-लक्षेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (two lakhs)

• गुरोः: of Jupiter (Guru)
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ग्रहाणाम्: of the planets
• ग्रहाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/now)

• मण्डलम्: the sphere/orbit (circle)
• मण्डलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (subject)

• सप्त-ऋषि-मण्डलम्: the constellation of the Seven Sages
• सप्त-ऋषि-मण्डलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (saptānāṃ ṛṣīṇāṃ maṇḍalam)

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• लक्ष-मात्रे: at a measure of one lakh
• लक्ष-मात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (lakṣasya mātram)

• प्रकाशते: shines/appears
• प्रकाशते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + काश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic cosmography to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śauri (Saturn)
• Guru/Bṛhaspati (Jupiter)
• Saptarṣi-maṇḍala (Ursa Major)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by mapping ordered cosmic spheres, the verse supports the Purāṇic vision of a law-governed universe, within which the Atman/Iśvara is understood as the underlying, unchanging reality beyond all moving planetary regions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct practice is taught in this verse; however, such cosmographic descriptions are traditionally used for dhyāna—contemplation on the vast, structured cosmos to steady the mind before higher teachings such as Pāśupata-oriented discipline and devotion found elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; its contribution is contextual—Kurma Purana often integrates cosmology with theology, where the same supreme principle is praised through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava lenses in other sections.