Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 5

Saṃnyāsa-dharma — Qualifications, Threefold Renunciation, and the Conduct of the Yati

Devanagari script

ज्ञानसंन्यासिनः केचिद् वेदसंन्यासिनः परे / कर्मसंन्यासिनस्त्वन्ये त्रिविधाः परिकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

jñānasaṃnyāsinaḥ kecid vedasaṃnyāsinaḥ pare / karmasaṃnyāsinastvanye trividhāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Translation

فمن الناس مَن هم سَنّياسِيّون قائمون على المعرفة (jñāna)؛ ومنهم مَن يتركون شعائر الفيدا؛ ومنهم آخرون يتركون العمل (karma) من طقوسٍ وأعمالٍ دنيوية. وهكذا قيل إنّ السَّنْياسا ثلاثةُ أنواع.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानसंन्यासिनः: knowledge-renouncers
• ज्ञानसंन्यासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃnyāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: ‘jñāna-saṃnyāsin’ (renouncer of/through knowledge); Masculine, Nominative 1st, Plural (बहुवचन)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kimcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘some’

• वेदसंन्यासिनः: Veda-renouncers
• वेदसंन्यासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃnyāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: ‘veda-saṃnyāsin’ (renouncer of Vedic study/recitation); Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• परे: others
• परे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘others’

• कर्मसंन्यासिनः: action-renouncers
• कर्मसंन्यासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃnyāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: ‘karma-saṃnyāsin’ (renouncer of actions/ritual works); Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तु: but/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अवधारण/विरोधक-अव्यय)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• त्रिविधाः: threefold
• त्रिविधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu compound: ‘tri-vidha’ (threefold); Masculine, Nominative, Plural; predicate adjective

• परिकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/declared
• परिकीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√kīrt (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त) used predicatively; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; passive sense ‘have been proclaimed’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Veda
• Karma
• Jñāna
• Saṃnyāsa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By distinguishing jñāna-saṃnyāsa as a primary form of renunciation, the verse points to liberation through direct insight (jñāna) into the Self beyond ritual identity and action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse frames the prerequisite inner stance for Yoga: withdrawal from action-driven pursuits and ritual dependence, culminating in jñāna-oriented renunciation that supports meditation, self-inquiry, and disciplined detachment.

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

Though not naming Shiva explicitly, the teaching reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: renunciation and Yoga are upheld as universal dharma taught by Vishnu in a tradition that also validates Shaiva (Pāśupata) spiritual discipline.