Shloka 72

Genealogies from Purūravas to the Haihayas; Jayadhvaja’s Vaiṣṇava Resolve, Sage-Adjudication, and the Slaying of Videha

Devanagari script

स्ववर्णाश्रमधर्मेण पूज्यो ऽयं पुरुषोत्तमः / अकामहतभावेन समाराध्यो न चान्यथा

Transliteration

svavarṇāśramadharmeṇa pūjyo 'yaṃ puruṣottamaḥ / akāmahatabhāvena samārādhyo na cānyathā

Translation

هذا البُروشوتّما يُعبَد وفقَ دَرْمَا المرء في الفَرْنا والآشرَما. ولا يُسترضى حقًّا إلا بقلبٍ لا تقهره الشهوة—ولا يكون ذلك بغير هذا السبيل.

Word by Word

• स्व-वर्ण-आश्रम-धर्मेण: by one’s own varṇa-āśrama duty
• स्व-वर्ण-आश्रम-धर्मेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/प्रकारवाचक (means/manner)

• पूज्यः: to be worshipped
• पूज्यः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त; √पूज् (धातु) यत्/य (gerundive/भाव्य))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicative): ‘ought to be worshipped’

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुषोत्तमः: Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person)
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अकाम-हत-भावेन: with a disposition not struck by desire (desireless attitude)
• अकाम-हत-भावेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकाम (प्रातिपदिक) + हत (कृदन्त; √हन् (धातु) क्त) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• समाराध्यः: to be duly propitiated
• समाराध्यः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाराध्य (कृदन्त; सम्-आ-√राध् (धातु) यत्/य (gerundive/भाव्य))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (ought to be propitiated)

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

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वय (conjunction)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: otherwise)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/seekers on dharma and worship

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama (Vishnu/Kūrma)
• Varṇāśrama-dharma
• Kāma (desire)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Puruṣottama as the supreme, worship-worthy reality approached through dharma and inner purity; desire-driven consciousness obstructs realization, while desirelessness supports steady orientation to the Highest.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse stresses nishkāma-bhāva (freedom from desire) and disciplined living via varṇāśrama-dharma—foundational restraints that align with Purāṇic Yoga and Pāśupata-leaning austerity: right conduct, self-control, and worship with a purified mind.

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

By emphasizing dharma, inner detachment, and true propitiation of the Supreme, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s shared soteriology across Shaiva-Vaishnava streams: the same highest goal is reached through disciplined duty and desireless devotion, whether framed as Hari or as the supreme Lord.