Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 15

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

जितेन्द्रियः स्यात् सततं वश्यात्माक्रोधनः शुचिः / प्रयुञ्जीत सदा वाचं मधुरां हितभाषिणीम्

Transliteration

jitendriyaḥ syāt satataṃ vaśyātmākrodhanaḥ śuciḥ / prayuñjīta sadā vācaṃ madhurāṃ hitabhāṣiṇīm

Translation

ينبغي للمرء أن يكون دائمًا غالبًا لحواسه، ضابطًا لنفسه، منزّهًا عن الغضب، طاهرًا؛ وأن يستعمل دائمًا كلامًا عذبًا نافعًا، لا ينطق إلا بما هو صالح وخيّر.

Word by Word

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; √जि (धातु) + इन्द्रिय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रियाणि जितानि यस्य)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सततम्: always/constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वश्यात्मा: self-controlled
• वश्यात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्य-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वश्यः आत्मा यस्य/वश्य आत्मा)

• अक्रोधनः: free from anger
• अक्रोधनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-क्रोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थः (क्रोधो न यस्य)

• शुचिः: pure/clean
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रयुञ्जीत: should employ/use
• प्रयुञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; उपसर्गः प्र-

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• वाचम्: speech/words
• वाचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• मधुराम्: sweet
• मधुराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाचम्)

• हितभाषिणीम्: speaking what is beneficial
• हितभाषिणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित-भाषिणी (प्रातिपदिक; √भाष् (धातु) + णिनि-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (हितं भाषते या)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing (didactic discourse to sages/seekers within the Purāṇic narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (implied didactic voice)
• Yoga-dharma (implied)
• Yama–Niyama (implied)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By insisting on mastery over senses, anger, and speech, the verse points to the Atman as distinct from reactive impulses; self-rule (vaśyātmā) is the practical sign of turning from the lower tendencies toward the inner Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights foundational yogic restraints: indriya-jaya (sense-restraint), akrodha (non-anger), śauca (purity), and vāg-yama (discipline of speech). These function as the ethical base for higher practices associated with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and contemplation in the Kurma Purana.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same dharmic-yogic disciplines (purity, self-control, beneficial speech) are upheld as universal prerequisites for realizing the one Supreme—whether approached through Śaiva or Vaiṣṇava devotion.