Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10
Varnāśrama-Krama, Vairāgya as the Ground of Saṃnyāsa, and Brahmārpaṇa Karma-yoga
प्रकर्तुमसमर्थो ऽपि जुहोतियजतिक्रियाः / अन्धः पङ्गुर्दरिद्रो वा विरक्तः संन्यसेद् द्विजः
prakartumasamartho 'pi juhotiyajatikriyāḥ / andhaḥ paṅgurdaridro vā viraktaḥ saṃnyased dvijaḥ
দ্বিজে হোম-যজ্ঞাদি ক্ৰিয়া কৰিবলৈ অক্ষম হলেও—অন্ধ, পংগু, দৰিদ্ৰ, অথবা অন্তৰত বৈৰাগ্যযুক্ত হলে—সন্ন্যাস গ্ৰহণ কৰা উচিত।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and renunciation
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By prioritizing virakti (dispassion) over external ritual capacity, the verse implies that inner renunciation and orientation toward the Self is a valid and higher basis for the spiritual path when outer acts are obstructed.
The verse points toward the renunciant discipline (sannyāsa) as a doorway to sustained inner practice—withdrawal from ritual obligations when impossible, cultivating detachment, and pursuing contemplative realization aligned with the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented teaching.
While not naming Shiva directly, the teaching harmonizes with the Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: renunciation and inner realization are upheld as common dharmic aims across sectarian forms, with the same Supreme sought through disciplined detachment.