Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

तत्र तत्राप्सरः सङ्धैर्नृत्यद्भिरुपशोभितम् / नानागीतविधानज्ञैर्देवानामपि दुर्लभैः

Transliteration

tatra tatrāpsaraḥ saṅdhairnṛtyadbhirupaśobhitam / nānāgītavidhānajñairdevānāmapi durlabhaiḥ

Translation

此处彼处，皆为成群阿普萨拉起舞而增辉；又有通晓诸般曲调与歌法编排的乐师点缀其间——其艺之稀有，连诸天亦难得一见。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense/स्थान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: 'there')

• तत्र: here and there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense/स्थान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• अप्सरः: apsarases (celestial nymphs)
• अप्सरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन

• सङ्घैः: by groups
• सङ्घैः: करण (Karana/Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• नृत्यद्भिः: dancing
• नृत्यद्भिः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier of सङ्घैः/अप्सरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृत् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्) → नृत्यत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle)

• उपशोभितम्: adorned
• उपशोभितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier of implied 'स्थानम्/भवनम्')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ् (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग) + क्त (कृत्) → उपशोभित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• नाना-गीत-विधान-ज्ञैः: by those skilled in various modes of song
• नाना-गीत-विधान-ज्ञैः: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण; नाना (indeclinable) as pre-member

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: 'even/also')

• दुर्लभैः: rare (hard to find)
• दुर्लभैः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with नानागीतविधानज्ञैः)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana-style narration, traditionally Sūta relating the account to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras
• Devas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly teach ātma-jñāna; it functions as a descriptive (stuti/varṇana) passage portraying a refined divine environment, which in the Purāṇic frame supports dharmic imagination and devotion rather than explicit non-dual analysis.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is stated in this śloka. Indirectly, such depictions serve as contemplative supports (bhāvanā) in Purāṇic spirituality—turning the mind toward sattva, devotion, and reverence that later mature into disciplined practice (yoga/vrata/dhyāna) elsewhere in the Kūrma Purāṇa.

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

This verse is neutral on Shiva–Vishnu theology; it highlights a shared Purāṇic cosmology where divine realms and celestial arts belong to the broader deva-order, within which Shaiva and Vaishnava teachings are harmonized in other sections of the Kūrma Purāṇa.