Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 25

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

ब्राह्मणं कुशलं पृच्छेत् क्षत्रबन्धुमनामयम् / वैश्यं क्षेमं समागम्य शूद्रमारोग्यमेव तु

brāhmaṇaṃ kuśalaṃ pṛcchet kṣatrabandhumanāmayam / vaiśyaṃ kṣemaṃ samāgamya śūdramārogyameva tu

ব্ৰাহ্মণক ‘কুশল’ সুধিব; ক্ষত্ৰিয়ক ‘অনাময়’ (কষ্টৰহিত) সুধিব; বৈশ্যক লগ পাই ‘ক্ষেম’ (নিরাপত্তা-সমৃদ্ধি) সুধিব; আৰু শূদ্ৰক কেৱল ‘আৰোগ্য’হে সুধিব।

brāhmaṇama Brahmin
brāhmaṇam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbrāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
kuśalamwelfare
kuśalam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (well-being)
pṛcchetshould ask
pṛcchet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootprach (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
kṣatra-bandhuma kṣatriya-relative (one connected with kṣatra)
kṣatra-bandhum:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkṣatra + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'क्षत्रस्य बन्धुः' (क्षत्रिय-सम्बन्धी)
anāmayamfree from illness
anāmayam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootan-āmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (free from disease)
vaiśyama Vaiśya
vaiśyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
kṣemamsecurity/prosperity
kṣemam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkṣema (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
samāgamyahaving met/approached
samāgamya:
Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ā-gam (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'सम्-आ-गम्' = having met/approached
śūdrama Śūdra
śūdram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
ārogyamhealth
ārogyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootārogya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
evaindeed/only
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formअवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)
tuand/but
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: 'but/and')

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing on dharma and social etiquette within varṇāśrama

Primary Rasa: shanta

K
Kūrma (Viṣṇu)
B
Brāhmaṇa
K
Kṣatriya
V
Vaiśya
Ś
Śūdra
V
Varṇāśrama-dharma

FAQs

Indirectly: it frames dharmic conduct (right speech and inquiry) as a foundational discipline that steadies the mind—an outer order that supports inner pursuit of the Self taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

No technique is taught directly; the verse emphasizes yama-like ethical culture—courteous, appropriate inquiry aligned with varṇāśrama—supporting the mental purity required for higher practices such as Pāśupata-oriented devotion, japa, and contemplation described in later teachings.

It does so implicitly: dharma is presented as a universal framework upheld by the Purana’s integrated Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava vision, where devotion and discipline—whether oriented to Śiva or Viṣṇu—rest on shared ethical order.