Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

न पाणिपादवाङ्नेत्रचापल्यं समुपाश्रयेत् / न शिश्नोदरचापल्यं न च श्रवणयोः क्वचित्

Transliteration

na pāṇipādavāṅnetracāpalyaṃ samupāśrayet / na śiśnodaracāpalyaṃ na ca śravaṇayoḥ kvacit

Translation

لا ينبغي للمرء أن يستسلم لاضطراب اليدين والقدمين والكلام والعينين؛ ولا أن يفسح مجالًا لتقلّب عضو الشهوة أو شهوة البطن؛ ولا أن يدع الأذنين تتيهان في أي موضع.

Word by Word

• na: not / do not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• pāṇi-pāda-vāk-netra-cāpalyaṃ: restlessness of hands, feet, speech, and eyes
• pāṇi-pāda-vāk-netra-cāpalyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक) + cāpalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमासः (collective dvandva)

• samupāśrayet: should resort to / should take refuge in
• samupāśrayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन; निषेधेन सह—‘न ... समुपाश्रयेत्’ = should not resort to

• na: not / do not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• śiśna-udara-cāpalyaṃ: restlessness of the genitals and belly
• śiśna-udara-cāpalyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśna (प्रातिपदिक) + udara (प्रातिपदिक) + cāpalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śiśnasya udarasya ca cāpalyaṃ)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• śravaṇayoḥ: of the two ears
• śravaṇayoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), द्विवचन

• kvacit: anywhere / ever
• kvacit: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘anywhere/ever’)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on yogic self-restraint and dharmic discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Indriyas (sense faculties)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing strict restraint of the senses and impulses, the verse implies that the Self is distinct from bodily and sensory agitation; steadiness (śama-dama) supports inward absorption where Atman is realized beyond the movements of sense-organs.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) is emphasized: controlling action (hands/feet), speech, sight, hearing, sexuality (brahmacarya), and appetite (mitāhāra). This is foundational for dhyāna and for the Pāśupata-oriented discipline of steadiness and purity.

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

Though not naming Shiva directly, the teaching reflects the shared Shaiva–Vaishnava yogic ethic central to the Kurma Purana: devotion and liberation depend on the same inner discipline taught across Pāśupata and Narayana-oriented paths.