Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 46

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

अथास्मिन्नन्तरे दिव्यमासनं विमलं शिवम् / किमप्यचिन्त्यं गगनादीश्वरार्हं समुद्बभौ

Transliteration

athāsminnantare divyamāsanaṃ vimalaṃ śivam / kimapyacintyaṃ gaganādīśvarārhaṃ samudbabhau

Translation

اسی اثنا میں ایک الٰہی تخت نمودار ہوا—پاکیزہ، شِوَمَی اور مبارک؛ وہ کچھ ناقابلِ تصور تھا، آسمانوں کے رب کے لائق، اور جلال سے چمک اٹھا۔

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/प्रकरणसूचक (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक/अनन्तरार्थक (particle/adverb: then/now)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (locative: in this)

• अन्तरे: in the interval
• अन्तरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (in the interval)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying āsanam)

• आसनम्: seat/throne
• आसनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विमलम्: pure, spotless
• विमलम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying āsanam)

• शिवम्: auspicious
• शिवम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (auspicious; qualifying āsanam)

• किम्: something
• किम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिर्दिष्टवस्तुवाचक (something/what)

• अपि: indeed/some
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: even/also; here with kim = 'some')

• अचिन्त्यम्: inconceivable
• अचिन्त्यम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचिन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक; √चिन्त् + य, नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (gerundive/ya-participle: unthinkable)

• गगन-आदि-ईश्वर-अर्हम्: worthy of the lords (of the elements) beginning with the sky
• गगन-आदि-ईश्वर-अर्हम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गगनादीनाम् ईश्वरैः अर्हम् = worthy of the lords beginning with the sky)

• समुद्बभौ: appeared/arose
• समुद्बभौ: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्+उद्; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the scene)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the manifestation “acintya” (inconceivable) and “vimala” (stainless), the verse points to the Supreme as beyond ordinary thought yet intrinsically pure—an Ishvara-principle that can be approached through reverence even when it transcends conceptual grasp.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse sets a yogic atmosphere rather than prescribing a technique: the appearance of a “divine seat” evokes āsana as the sacred support for contemplation, suggesting inner and outer purity (vimala) and auspicious orientation (śiva) as prerequisites for higher instruction associated with Pāśupata-aligned devotion and meditation.

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

The seat is described as “śivam” (auspicious/Śiva-toned) while being “worthy of the Lord of the heavens,” signaling the Kurma Purana’s integrative idiom where supreme lordship and auspicious Śiva-character are not opposed but harmonized within a single Ishvara-centered vision.