Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Measure of the Three Worlds, Planetary Spheres, and Sūrya as the Root of Trailokya

Devanagari script

रुद्रेन्द्रोपेन्द्रचन्द्राणां विप्रेन्द्राणां दिवौकसाम् / द्युतिर्द्युतिमतां कृत्स्नं यत्तेजः सार्वलौकिकम्

Transliteration

rudrendropendracandrāṇāṃ viprendrāṇāṃ divaukasām / dyutirdyutimatāṃ kṛtsnaṃ yattejaḥ sārvalaukikam

Translation

那普遍的光辉——使楼陀罗、因陀罗、优波因陀罗（毗湿奴）与月神发光；也使最胜婆罗门与天界住者辉耀——正是一切发光者圆满的威光。

Word by Word

• रुद्र-इन्द्र-उपेन्द्र-चन्द्राणाम्: of Rudra, Indra, Upendra, and Candra
• रुद्र-इन्द्र-उपेन्द्र-चन्द्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + इन्द्र + उपेन्द्र + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (चारः देवाः)

• विप्रेन्द्राणाम्: of the best of Brahmins
• विप्रेन्द्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• दिवौकसाम्: of the gods (heaven-dwellers)
• दिवौकसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्-ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘दिवि ओकः येषाम्’ इति तत्पुरुष (heaven-dwellers)

• द्युतिः: splendour
• द्युतिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्युतिमताम्: of the luminous ones
• द्युतिमताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्युतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘possessors of splendour’

• कृत्स्नम्: entire
• कृत्स्नम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with तेजः)

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative link)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• तेजः: radiance/energy
• तेजः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सार्वलौकिकम्: universal (pertaining to all worlds)
• सार्वलौकिकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्व-लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘सर्वेषां लोकानां लौकिकम्’ = universal/worldly)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on the Supreme Ishvara as the source of all tejas

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Indra
• Upendra (Vishnu)
• Chandra
• Brahmins (Viprendra)
• Devas (Divaukas)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the single, universal tejas (radiant consciousness) that empowers even the greatest gods and all luminous beings—implying that their glory is derivative, while the Atman/Ishvara is the foundational light.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-dhyana typical of the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-leaning synthesis: meditation on the one source of all splendour (tejas), withdrawing attention from secondary powers and fixing the mind on the universal Lord as the inner light.

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

By listing Rudra and Upendra as equally dependent on the same universal tejas, it frames Shiva and Vishnu within a non-competitive unity: both manifest glory through the one Ishvara who is the common source.