Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge

Devanagari script

तापसेष्वेव विप्रेषु यात्रिकं भैक्षमाहरेत् / गृहमेधिषु चान्येषु द्विजेषु वनवासिषु

Transliteration

tāpaseṣveva vipreṣu yātrikaṃ bhaikṣamāharet / gṛhamedhiṣu cānyeṣu dvijeṣu vanavāsiṣu

Translation

على السائح في الحجّ أن يلتمس الصدقة من البراهمة الزهّاد وحدهم؛ وكذلك من سائر ذوي الميلادين (الدويجا)، سواء كانوا أرباب بيوت أو ساكني الغابة.

Word by Word

• तापसेषु: among ascetics
• तापसेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle: only/indeed)

• विप्रेषु: among brāhmaṇas
• विप्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• यात्रिकम्: fit for a traveler / as a traveler’s (alms)
• यात्रिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यात्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying bhaikṣam)

• भैक्षम्: alms-food
• भैक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आहरेत्: should bring/collect
• आहरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गृहमेधिषु: among householders
• गृहमेधिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहमेधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अन्येषु: among other
• अन्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying dvijeṣu/vanavāsiṣu)

• द्विजेषु: among twice-born (brāhmaṇas etc.)
• द्विजेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• वनवासिषु: among forest-dwellers
• वनवासिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator (Sūta) conveying dharma-instructions within the Kurma Purana’s pilgrimage discipline section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (Vipra)
• Ascetics (Tāpasa)
• Twice-born (Dvija)
• Householder (Gṛhamedhin)
• Forest-dweller (Vanavāsin)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead it frames outer discipline (yātrā-bhikṣā) as a dharmic support for inner purification, which in the Kurma Purana is treated as a prerequisite for higher knowledge and yoga.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific āsana or meditation is stated; the practice emphasized is restraint (niyama-like discipline) in sustaining oneself—seeking alms in a regulated, non-exploitative way—supporting tapas and steadiness for later yogic instruction.

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

The verse is primarily dharma-oriented and does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu; within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such regulated conduct is presented as compatible with both Śaiva (tapas, Pāśupata ethos) and Vaiṣṇava (yātrā, purity) frameworks.