Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

अथैकशृङ्गशिखरे महापद्मैरलङ्कृतम् / स्वच्छामृतजलं पुण्यं सुगन्धं सुमहत् सरः

Transliteration

athaikaśṛṅgaśikhare mahāpadmairalaṅkṛtam / svacchāmṛtajalaṃ puṇyaṃ sugandhaṃ sumahat saraḥ

Translation

پھر ایکشِرِنگ کی چوٹی پر ایک نہایت وسیع مقدّس جھیل تھی، جو عظیم کنولوں سے آراستہ تھی؛ اس کا پانی امرت کی طرح شفاف، پاکیزہ اور خوشبودار تھا۔

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse (सम्बोधन/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• एकशृङ्गशिखरे: on the peak of Ekashṛṅga
• एकशृङ्गशिखरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-शृङ्ग-शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (एकस्य शृङ्गस्य शिखरम्)

• महापद्मैः: with great lotuses
• महापद्मैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (महान्ति पद्मानि)

• अलङ्कृतम्: adorned
• अलङ्कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलम्-√कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्वच्छामृतजलम्: having clear nectar-like water
• स्वच्छामृतजलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वच्छ-अमृत-जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वच्छं च अमृतवत् जलं यस्य/यत्) विशेषणरूपेण

• पुण्यम्: holy
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुगन्धम्: fragrant
• सुगन्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुमहत्: very large
• सुमहत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु + महत् = very great)

• सरः: lake
• सरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic recitation voice, traditionally through Vyāsa’s discourse framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ekaśṛṅga
• Mahāpadma (great lotus)
• Saraḥ (sacred lake/tīrtha)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by portraying a tīrtha of clarity and sanctity, it mirrors the yogic ideal of a purified inner awareness—clear, fragrant with virtue, and “nectar-like,” which supports contemplation of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself is tīrtha-focused rather than instructional, but it supports Kurma Purana’s broader yogic ethic: purification (śuddhi), sattvic environment, and merit (puṇya) as aids to japa, dhyāna, and disciplined vows during pilgrimage.

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

Not explicitly; however, Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis often treats tīrthas as shared sacred spaces where devotion and purity support realization beyond sectarian difference.