Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

रत्नधारे गिरिवरे सप्तर्षोणां महात्मनाम् / सप्ताश्रमाणि पुण्यानि सिद्धावासयुतानि तु

Transliteration

ratnadhāre girivare saptarṣoṇāṃ mahātmanām / saptāśramāṇi puṇyāni siddhāvāsayutāni tu

Translation

رتن دھارا نامی برتر پہاڑ پر عظیم النفس سَپت رِشیوں کے سات مقدس آشرم ہیں، جو سِدھوں کے مساکن سے آراستہ ہیں۔

Word by Word

• रत्नधारे: in Ratnadhārā
• रत्नधारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna+dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रत्नानां धारा)

• गिरिवरे: on the excellent mountain
• गिरिवरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri+vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वरः गिरिः)

• सप्तर्षोणाम्: of the seven sages
• सप्तर्षोणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta+ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (सप्त ऋषयः)

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā+ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सप्तर्षीणाम्); कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

• सप्ताश्रमाणि: seven hermitages
• सप्ताश्रमाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta+āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (सप्त आश्रमाः)

• पुण्यानि: holy
• पुण्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (आश्रमाणि)

• सिद्धावासयुतानि: endowed with the dwellings of Siddhas
• सिद्धावासयुतानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siddha+āvāsa+yuta (प्रातिपदिक; √yuj (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (युत = joined/possessed); विशेषणम् (आश्रमाणि)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विशेषार्थक particle)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing a tirtha/kshetra within the Kurma Purana’s sacred geography section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ratnadhara
• Saptarshi
• Siddha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it points to sanctified spaces where perfected beings (siddhas) abide—implying the Purāṇic view that realization of the Self is supported by sattvic environments, rishi-lineages, and dharmic disciplines rather than mere theory.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse signals an āśrama-based yogic culture: living near rishis, practicing tapas, japa, and disciplined conduct in holy hermitages—conditions traditionally linked with siddhi and steady meditation in the Kurma Purana’s broader dharma-yoga framework.

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

By emphasizing siddha-abodes and rishi-āśramas as universally sacred, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: pilgrimage and yogic attainment are not sectarian but support devotion and realization across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams.