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Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Yamunā–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Agni-tīrtha, Anaraka, Prayāga, and the Tapovana of Jāhnavī

भूसमुद्रादिसंस्थानं प्रमाणं ज्योतिषां स्थितम् / पृष्टः प्रोवाच सकलमुक्त्वाथ प्रययो मुनिः

bhūsamudrādisaṃsthānaṃ pramāṇaṃ jyotiṣāṃ sthitam / pṛṣṭaḥ provāca sakalamuktvātha prayayo muniḥ

Khi được hỏi, vị hiền triết đã giảng giải trọn vẹn về sự sắp đặt của đất và biển, cùng các chuẩn lượng và vị trí đã an định của các thiên thể; nói xong mọi điều, bậc muni liền ra đi.

bhū-samudra-ādi-saṃsthānamthe configuration/arrangement of earth, oceans, etc.
bhū-samudra-ādi-saṃsthānam:
Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootbhū (प्रातिपदिक) + samudra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana (एकवचन); समासः—भू-समुद्र-आदि- (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-निर्देश) + संस्थानम्
pramāṇamthe measure/dimension
pramāṇam:
Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootpramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana (एकवचन)
jyotiṣāmof the luminaries (celestial bodies)
jyotiṣām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootjyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी) Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)
sthitamestablished/located
sthitam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Root√sthā (धा) → sthita (कृदन्त, क्त)
FormKta-participle (क्त), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana (एकवचन); past passive participle ‘placed/established’
pṛṣṭaḥ(he) being asked
pṛṣṭaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Root√prach (धा) → pṛṣṭa (कृदन्त, क्त)
FormKta-participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana (एकवचन); ‘having been asked’
provācasaid, spoke forth
provāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra + √vac (धा)
FormLiṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष) Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada
sakalaम्everything, the whole (account)
sakalaम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsakala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (द्वितीया) Ekavacana (एकवचन); ‘the whole (thing)’
uktvāhaving said
uktvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Root√vac (धा) → uktvā (क्त्वान्त)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya-prayoga; ‘having said’
athathen
atha:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatha (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; discourse particle/conjunction
prayayaudeparted, went away
prayayau:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra + √yā (धा)
FormLiṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष) Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada
muniḥthe sage
muniḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator) describing a sage’s reply and departure

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

E
Earth (Bhū)
O
Oceans (Samudra)
L
Luminaries (Jyotiṣ)

FAQs

This verse is primarily cosmographical and narrative: it records a sage teaching the world’s arrangement and the luminaries’ measures. It does not directly define Ātman, but it reflects the Purāṇic method of transmitting ordered knowledge (tattva-vyavasthā) through realized sages.

No specific Yoga practice is prescribed in this verse. Indirectly, it emphasizes śravaṇa (attentive listening to authoritative teaching) as a foundational discipline that supports later contemplative practice in the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.

This verse does not explicitly mention Shiva or Vishnu; it functions as a transition after cosmological instruction. The Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis is expressed elsewhere, while here the focus is on cosmography and the authority of the sage’s exposition.