Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 11

Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)

Devanagari script

न धर्मस्यापदेशेन पापं कृत्वा व्रतं चरेत् / व्रतेन पापं प्रच्छाद्य कुर्वन् स्त्रीशूद्रदम्भनम्

Transliteration

na dharmasyāpadeśena pāpaṃ kṛtvā vrataṃ caret / vratena pāpaṃ pracchādya kurvan strīśūdradambhanam

Translation

لا ينبغي للمرء أن يرتكب الإثم بحجة «الدارما» ثم يشرع في نذرٍ (فْرَتَة). ولا ينبغي له، وهو يؤدي النذر، أن يستر ذنبه ويمارس خداعًا نفاقيًا—وخاصةً بإظهار التقوى رياءً أمام النساء والـشُّودرا.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपदेशेन: by the pretext
• अपदेशेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• व्रतम्: vow; observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चरेत्: should practice/undertake
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्रतेन: by/with a vow
• व्रतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रच्छाद्य: having concealed
• प्रच्छाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + छद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having covered/concealed’

• कुर्वन्: doing; performing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• स्त्रीशूद्रदम्भनम्: deceit toward women and Śūdras
• स्त्रीशूद्रदम्भनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री + शूद्र + दम्भन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्त्रीशूद्राणां दम्भनम्/दम्भः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and vrata (didactic discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Strī
• Śūdra
• Dambha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it prioritizes inner truthfulness over outer ritual display, aligning with the Purāṇic-Yogic view that spiritual practice must be grounded in inner purity (śuddhi) rather than ego-driven performance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights the ethical foundation (yama-like restraints) necessary for any vrata or Yoga: do not use religious discipline to mask wrongdoing; without sincerity and self-restraint, observances become mere dambha (hypocrisy), obstructing true sādhana.

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

By emphasizing authentic dharma over sectarian display, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis: genuine observance and inner purity are upheld as universal spiritual principles, not tied to performative identity.