Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Cosmic Realms Above Dhruva, the Pātālas Below, and the Foundation of Pralaya

Ananta–Kāla

Devanagari script

नितलं यवनाद्यैश्च तारकाग्निमुखैस्तथा / महान्तकाद्यैर्नागैश्च प्रह्मादेनासुरेण च

Transliteration

nitalaṃ yavanādyaiśca tārakāgnimukhaistathā / mahāntakādyairnāgaiśca prahmādenāsureṇa ca

Translation

名为“尼多罗”(Nītala)的下界，居住着雅瓦那人等众类，也有塔罗迦(Tāraka)、阿伽尼穆迦(Agnimukha)等众生；又有以摩诃难多迦(Mahāntaka)为首的那伽族，并有名为梵摩阿提(Brahmāde/Brahmāda)的阿修罗。

Word by Word

• नितलम्: Nitala (a nether region)
• नितलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नितल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यवन-आद्यैः: by Yavana and others
• यवन-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यवन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तारक-अग्नि-मुखैः: by Tāraka, Agni, Mukha (and the like)
• तारक-अग्नि-मुखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• महान्तक-आद्यैः: by Mahāntaka and others
• महान्तक-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महान्तक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नागैः: by nāgas (serpents)
• नागैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रह्मादेन: by Prahmāda (proper name; reading uncertain)
• प्रह्मादेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्माद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• असुरेण: by the asura
• असुरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Purāṇic cosmology to the sages, in the Kurma Purana’s discourse frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Nitala
• Yavana
• Tāraka
• Agnimukha
• Mahāntaka
• Nāga
• Asura Brahmāde (Brahmāda)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily cosmographical, listing inhabitants of Nitala; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic view that all realms and beings—humans, Nāgas, and Asuras—exist within the ordered manifestation governed by the Supreme Lord, who remains transcendent to these strata.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is taught in this verse; its function is descriptive (lokas and inhabitants). In Kurma Purana study, such cosmology often supports vairāgya (detachment) by contextualizing worldly and otherworldly domains as impermanent compared to liberation taught in later yoga and īśvara-centered sections.

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

The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; however, within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, cosmological descriptions like this are typically framed as part of a single divine order upheld by the same Supreme Reality, revered through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms.