Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

Sapta-dvīpa Cosmography and the Vision of Śvetadvīpa–Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

श्रीमत्पवित्रं देवस्य श्रीपतेरमितौजसः / तस्य मध्ये ऽतितेजस्कमुच्चप्राकारतोरणम्

Transliteration

śrīmatpavitraṃ devasya śrīpateramitaujasaḥ / tasya madhye 'titejaskamuccaprākāratoraṇam

Translation

主之圣居光荣而至净——吉祥之主Śrīpati，威光无量。其中央矗立一座炽然夺目的高大门阙，建于高耸城垣之上。

Word by Word

• श्रीमत्-पवित्रम्: glorious and sacred
• श्रीमत्-पवित्रम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (glorious and holy)

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• श्रीपतेः: of Śrīpati (Lord of Lakṣmī)
• श्रीपतेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अमित-ओजसः: of immeasurable splendor/power
• अमित-ओजसः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक) + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषण (of immeasurable vigor)

• तस्य: of that (place/one)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• अति-तेजस्कम्: exceedingly brilliant
• अति-तेजस्कम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + तेजस्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (exceedingly radiant)

• उच्च-प्राकार-तोरणम्: a lofty ramparted gateway/arch
• उच्च-प्राकार-तोरणम्: अधिकरण/वर्ण्य (Described entity/वर्ण्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्च (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राकार (प्रातिपदिक) + तोरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (a lofty gateway with ramparts)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the sacred realm of Śrīpati/Viṣṇu in the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śrīpati (Viṣṇu)
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Lord’s abode as “supremely pure” and “radiant,” the verse points to the Supreme as self-luminous (svayaṃ-prakāśa) and intrinsically purifying—an outward symbol of the inner purity and clarity associated with realizing the Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named, but the emphasis on pavitratā (purity) and tejas (radiance) aligns with Purāṇic yoga ideals: purification of mind and senses, steady contemplation on the Lord’s form, and inward ascent through the ‘gateway’ of disciplined practice toward the sanctified center (madhya) of awareness.

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

Though Viṣṇu is explicitly praised as Śrīpati, the Purāṇic theology often uses shared symbols—purity, tejas, and the sacred center—to indicate one supreme reality approached through different names; this supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic spirit where sectarian forms point toward a single, transcendent Lord.