Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

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

Ananta–Kāla

Devanagari script

वितलं चैव विख्यातं कम्बलाहीन्द्रसेवितम् / महाजम्भेन वीरेण हयग्रीवेण वै तथा

Transliteration

vitalaṃ caiva vikhyātaṃ kambalāhīndrasevitam / mahājambhena vīreṇa hayagrīveṇa vai tathā

Translation

而（其下）有著名的下界名为“毗多罗”(Vitala)，由那伽之主甘婆罗(Kambala)与阿希因陀罗(Ahīndra)侍奉；亦有勇士摩诃阇婆(Mahājambha)与海耶格利瓦(Hayagrīva)同在。

Word by Word

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

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• विख्यातम्: well-known
• विख्यातम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ख्यात (कृदन्त; √ख्या धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past participle, Neuter, Accusative, Singular (agreeing with वितलम्)

• कम्बल-अहीन्द्र-सेवितम्: served by Kambala, the serpent-king
• कम्बल-अहीन्द्र-सेवितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अहीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (कृदन्त; √सेव् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past participle used adjectivally: 'served by ...' (agreeing with वितलम्)

• महाजम्भेन: by Mahājambha
• महाजम्भेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाजम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• वीरेण: by the hero
• वीरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular (apposition to महाजम्भेन)

• हयग्रीवेण: by Hayagrīva
• हयग्रीवेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/assurance)

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

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) relaying the Purāṇic cosmography to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vitala
• Kambala
• Ahīndra
• Mahājambha
• Hayagrīva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily cosmographical, naming Vitala and its guardians; it implies a layered cosmos governed by ordered beings, rather than directly teaching Ātman-doctrine.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit Yoga practice is taught in this line; its function is to map the Purāṇic universe, which later supports dharma and contemplation by situating beings within a divinely ordered creation.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis where the same supreme governance underlies all realms and their guardians.