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Shloka 23

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

ब्राह्मणा द्रविणो विप्राः क्षत्रियाः शुष्मिणस्तथा / वैश्याः स्नेहास्तु मन्देहाः शूद्रास्तत्र प्रकीर्तिताः

brāhmaṇā draviṇo viprāḥ kṣatriyāḥ śuṣmiṇastathā / vaiśyāḥ snehāstu mandehāḥ śūdrāstatra prakīrtitāḥ

وہاں یوں بیان ہوا ہے کہ برہمن دولت و وسائل کی طرف مائل، کشتری تیز و پرجوش، ویش سنےہ و وابستگی سے نشان زد، اور شودر ماندہ فہم کہے گئے ہیں۔

ब्राह्मणाःbrāhmaṇas
ब्राह्मणाः:
कर्ता (subject; class being described)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative Plural
द्रविणःwealthy/possessing wealth
द्रविणः:
विशेषण (qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootद्रविण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative Plural; विशेषण to ‘ब्राह्मणाः’
विप्राःbrāhmaṇas (learned ones)
विप्राः:
कर्ता (appositive)
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative Plural; apposition to ‘ब्राह्मणाः’
क्षत्रियाःkṣatriyas
क्षत्रियाः:
कर्ता (subject; next class)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative Plural
शुष्मिणःvigorous/valiant
शुष्मिणः:
विशेषण (qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुष्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative Plural; विशेषण to ‘क्षत्रियाः’
तथाlikewise
तथा:
सम्बन्ध (adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय — adverb (‘likewise’)
वैश्याःvaiśyas
वैश्याः:
कर्ता (subject; next class)
TypeNoun
Rootवैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative Plural
स्नेहाःaffectionate/attached
स्नेहाः:
विशेषण (qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative Plural; विशेषण to ‘वैश्याः’
तुbut/indeed
तु:
सम्बन्ध (particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय — particle (contrast/emphasis)
मन्देहाःMandehas (a group/people)
मन्देहाः:
कर्ता (subject; identification)
TypeNoun
Rootमन्देह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative Plural; proper noun (a class of beings)
शूद्राःśūdras
शूद्राः:
कर्ता (subject; next class)
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative Plural
तत्रthere
तत्र:
अधिकरण (locative adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय — adverb of place
प्रकीर्तिताःare proclaimed/are described
प्रकीर्तिताः:
क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Main predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
Formक्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः — ‘are proclaimed/are said’

Traditional narration within the Purva-bhaga (didactic discourse attributed in the Kurma Purana’s dialogue framework; commonly presented as instruction ultimately stemming from Lord Kurma’s teaching line to sages/Indradyumna-context).

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

It does not directly define Atman; instead, it classifies human temperaments within varṇāśrama. In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such classifications support dharma and inner purification, which then becomes a basis for Self-knowledge.

No specific yogic technique is stated in this verse. Indirectly, it frames psychological tendencies (svabhāva) that must be disciplined—an ethical prerequisite for higher practice, including the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava yogic paths such as Pāśupata-oriented restraint and devotion.

It does not explicitly mention Shiva or Vishnu. However, as part of the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching layer, it supports the shared Shaiva-Vaishnava aim: regulating conduct and tendencies so the aspirant becomes fit for devotion and liberating knowledge.