Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Dvīpa-Varṣa Vibhāga and the Priyavrata–Agnīdhra Lineage

Cosmic Geography and Royal Succession

Devanagari script

जलदं जलदस्याथ वर्षं प्रथममुच्यते / कुमारस्य तु कौमारं तृतीयं सुकुमारकम्

Transliteration

jaladaṃ jaladasyātha varṣaṃ prathamamucyate / kumārasya tu kaumāraṃ tṛtīyaṃ sukumārakam

Translation

Đối với người mang danh Jalada, varṣa thứ nhất được gọi theo tên Jalada. Còn đối với Kumāra, giai đoạn thứ ba được gọi là Kaumāra, và cũng được xưng là Sukumāraka—tuổi non mềm.

Word by Word

• जलदम्: Jalada (region-name)
• जलदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; name of varṣa

• जलदस्य: of Jalada
• जलदस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम (then)

• वर्षम्: region/varṣa
• वर्षम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ordinal adjective

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• कुमारस्य: of Kumāra
• कुमारस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (but/indeed)

• कौमारम्: Kaumāra (region-name)
• कौमारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; derived from कुमार (pertaining to Kumāra)

• तृतीयम्: third
• तृतीयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ordinal adjective

• सुकुमारकम्: Sukumāraka (region-name)
• सुकुमारकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकुमारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; name; समास/निर्माण: सु + कुमारक

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying Purāṇic enumeration/traditional nomenclature in the Kurma Purana’s discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Jalada
• Kumāra

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is not directly metaphysical; it functions as a dharma-oriented classification of human stages by conventional names, which supports disciplined living (āśrama-style order) rather than explicit ātma-tattva teaching.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic practice is taught in this line; its practical import is preparatory—clear stage-definitions help align duties and self-restraint appropriate to one’s age, a foundation for later Purāṇic yoga and vrata disciplines.

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

It does not explicitly address Shiva–Vishnu unity; it is a neutral, encyclopedic naming of stages. The Kurma Purana’s synthesis appears more strongly in its later doctrinal and devotional sections (including Ishvara Gita themes).