बृहत्संहिता (आचार्य वराहमिहिर - स्थापत्य, खगोल, मौसम व जल विज्ञान)

Adh. XIV.] चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः 159 कूर्मविभागाध्यायः ॥१४॥ Kurma Vibhaga. With reference to our Puranas, it can be ascertained that जम्बूद्वीप-Jambudweepa (one of the seven continents surrounding the mountain Meru) was divided into nine sub-continents each being termed a वर्ष-Varsha. These nine divisions are (1) कुरु- Kuru (2) हिरण्मय-Hiranmaya (3) रम्यक-Ramyaka (4) इलावृत- Ilavrita (5) हरि-Hari (6) केतुमाला-Ketumala (7) भद्राश्व- Bhadraswa (8) किन्नर-Kinnara and (9) भारत-Bharata. The name of the Adhyaya suggests in itself that the word कूर्म-Kurma in- stead of being literally translated as 'tortoise' should be con- strued to mean 'Globe.' This is further supported by the first Sloka of the chapter which starts with nine divisions of the 27 lunar mansions—each division consisting of 3 stars commencing from Krittika. The reader will note that the original divisions of the zodiac started from the first quarter of Krittika, the star owned by the Sun, the lord of the nine planets. That our ancient authors went hand in hand with a thorough knowledge of the 18 Puranas is another reason for us to interpret कूर्म as Globe. For जयदेव-Jayadeva, the poet, in his गीतगोविन्द- Gitagovinda, while describing the 10 incarnations of Vishnu as वेदानुद्धरते जगन्निवहते भूगोलमुद्विभ्रत दैत्यं दारयते बलिं छलयते क्षत्रक्षयं कुर्वते । पौलस्त्यं जयते हलं कलयते कारुण्यमातन्वते म्लेच्छान्मूर्च्छयते दशाकृतिकृते कृष्णाय तुभ्यं नमः ॥ observes the कूर्मावतार as 'जगन्निवहते' (one who carries the Globe on his back) and this interpretation is now taken advantage of. Also क्षितिरतिविपुलतरे । तव तिष्ठति पृष्ठे । धरणीधरण केण चक्रगरिष्ठे केशव धृतकच्छपरूप जय जगदीश हरे । Also compare the following सुभाषित — यो धत्ते शेषनागं तदनु वसुमतीं स्वर्गपातालयुक्तां युक्तां सर्वैः समुद्रैर्हिमगिरिकनप्रस्थमुख्यैर्नगेन्द्रैः । एतद्ब्रह्माण्डमस्यामृतघटसदृशं भाति वंशे सुरारेः पायाद्वः कूर्मदेहः प्रकटितमहिमा माधवः कामरूपी ॥