Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

नारीशतसहस्त्राढ्यं दिव्यगोयसमन्वितम् / हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम् / चतुर्द्वारमनौपम्यमगम्यं देवविद्विषाम्

Transliteration

nārīśatasahastrāḍhyaṃ divyagoyasamanvitam / haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇaṃ cakravākopaśobhitam / caturdvāramanaupamyamagamyaṃ devavidviṣām

Translation

此城/圣居富有数十万女子，具足天赐神牛与无量财宝；群集天鹅与迦兰陀婆鸟，又为查克拉瓦卡鸳鸯鸭所增辉。四门庄严，无与伦比，诸天之敌亦不可入。

Word by Word

• नारी-शत-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: rich with hundreds of thousands of women
• नारी-शत-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• दिव्य-गोयस्-अन्वितम्: endowed with divine cows/wealth (goyas)
• दिव्य-गोयस्-अन्वितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गोयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हंस-कारण्डव-आकीर्णम्: filled with swans and kāraṇḍavas (waterfowl)
• हंस-कारण्डव-आकीर्णम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण्डव (प्रातिपदिक) + आकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• चक्रवाक-उपशोभितम्: adorned by cakravāka birds
• चक्रवाक-उपशोभितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्रवाक (प्रातिपदिक) + उपशोभित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• चतुर्-द्वारम्: having four gates
• चतुर्-द्वारम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यापूर्वक-समास (dvigu), विशेषण

• अनौपम्यम्: incomparable
• अनौपम्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनौपम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अगम्यम्: inaccessible
• अगम्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय) → अगम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृतान्त (gerundive), नञ्-पूर्वक (negative)

• देव-विद्विषाम्: of the enemies of the gods
• देव-विद्विषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of/for)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Kurma Purana’s descriptive passage; traditionally mediated by Vyasa/Sūta in frame-dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Hamsa (swans)
• Kāraṇḍava birds
• Cakravāka birds

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily descriptive (a divine, protected abode) rather than explicitly metaphysical; it supports the Purāṇic theme that dharmic, divinely-ordered realms reflect harmony, abundance, and protection under cosmic law rather than detailing ātman-doctrine.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is taught in this verse; instead, it evokes the purified, sattvic atmosphere (beauty, order, auspiciousness) that later Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis texts like the Kurma Purana’s yoga teachings associate with conducive conditions for sādhana.

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

The verse does not directly mention Shiva or Vishnu; indirectly, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative outlook by portraying a divinely protected order (deva-aligned dharma) that later passages frame as upheld by the Supreme in both Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms.