Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

सत्यं सन्तोष आस्तिक्यं श्रद्धा चेन्द्रियनिग्रहः / देवताभ्यर्चनं पूजा ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः

Transliteration

satyaṃ santoṣa āstikyaṃ śraddhā cendriyanigrahaḥ / devatābhyarcanaṃ pūjā brāhmaṇānāṃ viśeṣataḥ

Translation

الصدق، والقناعة، والآستِكْيَة (الإيمان بالويدا وبالإله)، والشرَدّها (الثقة الموقّرة)، وكبح الحواس؛ ومع عبادة الآلهة وإقامة البوجا، ولا سيّما خدمة البراهمة وتوقيرهم بتعبّد—كل ذلك مُعلَنٌ أعمدةً للدَّرما.

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सन्तोषः: contentment
• सन्तोषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• आस्तिक्यम्: faith in the Veda/God (āstikya)
• आस्तिक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्तिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• श्रद्धा: faith
• श्रद्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction

• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: restraint of the senses
• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय + निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणां निग्रहः/इन्द्रियनिग्रहः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• देवताभ्यर्चनम्: worship of deities
• देवताभ्यर्चनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + अभ्यर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (देवताभ्यः अभ्यर्चनम्/देवताभ्यर्चनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• पूजा: reverential worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय; adverb ('especially')

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing (in a dharma-teaching context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devatāḥ (the deities)
• Brāhmaṇas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames dharma as inner purification—truth, contentment, faith, and sense-restraint—which prepares the mind for realizing Ātman by reducing rajas-tamas and stabilizing sattva.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes indriya-nigraha (sense-control) and śraddhā/āstikya as core prerequisites for Yoga-sādhana; in Kurma Purana’s spiritual discipline, ethical restraint and devotional worship support deeper concentration and contemplative practice.

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

By prioritizing devatā-arcana (worship of the deities) without sectarian exclusion, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where devotion and dharma can be offered across divine forms within a unified Īśvara-centered framework.