Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 24

Narmadā-māhātmya: Amarakāṇṭaka, Jāleśvara, Kapilā–Viśalyakaraṇī, and the Supreme Purifying Power of Darśana

Devanagari script

दक्षिणे नर्मदाकूले कपिलाख्या महानदी / सरलार्जुनसंच्छन्ना नातिदूरे व्यवस्थिता

Transliteration

dakṣiṇe narmadākūle kapilākhyā mahānadī / saralārjunasaṃcchannā nātidūre vyavasthitā

Translation

在那尔摩陀河（Narmadā）的南岸，有一条大河名为“迦毗罗”（Kapilā）；不远处，河畔为娑罗罗（sarala）与阿周那（arjuna）树林所荫蔽。

Word by Word

• दक्षिणे: in the southern (side)
• दक्षिणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (locative adjective)

• नर्मदा-कूले: on the bank of the Narmadā
• नर्मदा-कूले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक) + कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नर्मदायाः कूलम्)

• कपिला-आख्या: named Kapilā
• कपिला-आख्या: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपिलाया आख्या यस्याः) = नामधेय-विशेषणम्

• महानदी: a great river
• महानदी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती नदी)

• सरल-अर्जुन-संच्छन्ना: covered with śāla(?) and arjuna trees
• सरल-अर्जुन-संच्छन्ना: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरल (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक) + सं-छद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सरलैः अर्जुनैश्च संच्छन्ना)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अति-दूरे: (at) very far (away)
• अति-दूरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (अति + दूर) = 'अतिदूर' ; न + अतिदूरे = 'not far away'

• व्यवस्थिता: situated/located
• व्यवस्थिता: कर्तृसम्बन्धि विधेय (Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-अव-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya section)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narmada
• Kapila
• Arjuna (tree)
• Sarala (tree)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily geographical (tīrtha-description) rather than metaphysical; it supports the Purāṇic view that sacred landscapes aid inner purification, which in turn prepares one for realizing the ātman taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yogic technique is stated; the implied practice is tīrtha-sevā—dwelling or bathing near sacred rivers like the Narmadā/Kapilā as a purificatory discipline that complements Pāśupata-oriented devotion and meditation described in other chapters.

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

The verse does not directly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; indirectly, it fits the Kurma Purana’s synthesis by presenting tīrthas as shared sacred spaces where both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava modes of worship are traditionally performed.