Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

नद्यो विमलपानीयाश्चित्रनीलोत्पलाकराः / कर्णिकारवनं द्विव्यं तत्रास्ते शङ्करोमया

Transliteration

nadyo vimalapānīyāścitranīlotpalākarāḥ / karṇikāravanaṃ dvivyaṃ tatrāste śaṅkaromayā

Translation

وہاں شفاف و پاکیزہ پانی والی ندیاں ہیں، جن کے کنارے رنگا رنگ نیلوُتپل کے جھنڈ سجے ہیں؛ وہاں دیویہ کرنیکار کا جنگل بھی ہے—اور وہیں میں شَنکر، اپنی سْوَشکتی سے، مقیم ہوں۔

Word by Word

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• विमलपानीयाः: having pure water
• विमलपानीयाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल + पानीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (विमलं पानीयं यासाम्) — नद्यः इति विशेषणम्

• चित्रनीलोत्पलाकराः: with beds/mines of variegated blue lotuses
• चित्रनीलोत्पलाकराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र + नील + उत्पल + आकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चित्राणि नीलोत्पलानि येषु आकराः) — नद्यः इति विशेषणम्

• कर्णिकारवनम्: a karṇikāra-grove
• कर्णिकारवनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिकार + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कर्णिकाराणां वनम्)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying वनम्)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• आस्ते: dwells/sits
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• शङ्कर-उमया: with Śaṅkara and Umā
• शङ्कर-उमया: Sahartha (सहार्थ/Instrumental of accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर + उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (शङ्करश्च उमा च) — ‘with Śaṅkara and Umā’ (सह-भावे तृतीया)

Speaker

Shiva (Śaṅkara), describing his sacred abode/region

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śaṅkara)
• Nadī (sacred rivers)
• Nīlotpala (blue lotus)
• Karṇikāra forest

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By stating “there I abide—Śaṅkara—by my own power,” the verse hints at īśvaratva (divine sovereignty): the Lord is not dependent on external supports, but is self-established and manifests sanctity in a place through his own śakti.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct technique is prescribed in this verse; it functions as a tirtha-indication. In Kurma Purana practice, such a description supports dhyāna and japa by providing a sacred locus (kshetra) where purity (vimalapānīya) and divine presence aid concentration and inner purification.

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

While Vishnu is not named here, the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis frames Shiva’s abode-description as part of one integrated sacred landscape, where devotion to Śaṅkara harmonizes with the Purana’s overarching theology rather than competing with it.