Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Cosmic Realms Above Dhruva, the Pātālas Below, and the Foundation of Pralaya

Ananta–Kāla

Devanagari script

वितलं चैव विख्यातं कम्बलाहीन्द्रसेवितम् / महाजम्भेन वीरेण हयग्रीवेण वै तथा

Transliteration

vitalaṃ caiva vikhyātaṃ kambalāhīndrasevitam / mahājambhena vīreṇa hayagrīveṇa vai tathā

Translation

اور اس کے نیچے مشہور وِتَل لوک ہے، جہاں کمبل اور آہیندر نامی ناگ راجا خدمت میں ہیں، اور بہادر مہاجمبھ اور ہَیگریو بھی وہاں موجود ہیں۔

Word by Word

• वितलम्: Vitala (a nether region)
• वितलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• विख्यातम्: well-known
• विख्यातम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ख्यात (कृदन्त; √ख्या धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past participle, Neuter, Accusative, Singular (agreeing with वितलम्)

• कम्बल-अहीन्द्र-सेवितम्: served by Kambala, the serpent-king
• कम्बल-अहीन्द्र-सेवितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अहीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (कृदन्त; √सेव् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past participle used adjectivally: 'served by ...' (agreeing with वितलम्)

• महाजम्भेन: by Mahājambha
• महाजम्भेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाजम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• वीरेण: by the hero
• वीरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular (apposition to महाजम्भेन)

• हयग्रीवेण: by Hayagrīva
• हयग्रीवेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) relaying the Purāṇic cosmography to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vitala
• Kambala
• Ahīndra
• Mahājambha
• Hayagrīva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily cosmographical, naming Vitala and its guardians; it implies a layered cosmos governed by ordered beings, rather than directly teaching Ātman-doctrine.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit Yoga practice is taught in this line; its function is to map the Purāṇic universe, which later supports dharma and contemplation by situating beings within a divinely ordered creation.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis where the same supreme governance underlies all realms and their guardians.