Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 70

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

यावदेको ऽनुदिष्टस्य स्नेहो गन्धश्च तिष्ठति / विप्रस्य विदुषो देहे तावद् ब्रह्म न कीर्तयेत्

Transliteration

yāvadeko 'nudiṣṭasya sneho gandhaśca tiṣṭhati / viprasya viduṣo dehe tāvad brahma na kīrtayet

Translation

অনুদিষ্ট (অশুদ্ধ) আসক্তিৰ অতি সৰু লেশ আৰু তাৰ গন্ধ বিদ্বান ব্ৰাহ্মণৰ দেহত যিমান দিন থাকে, তিমান দিনলৈ তেওঁ ব্ৰহ্মবিদ্যা প্ৰকাশ্যে কীৰ্তন/উপদেশ নকৰিব।

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; correl. adverb (यावत्—तावत्) = 'as long as'

• ekaḥ: one (single)
• ekaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; numeral adjective

• anudiṣṭasya: of one not instructed / of the uninitiated
• anudiṣṭasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anudiṣṭa (कृदन्त; √diś उपदिश्/दिश् + anu, past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular; PPP used adjectivally = 'not instructed/unspecified'

• snehaḥ: affection; attachment
• snehaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• gandhaḥ: smell; odor
• gandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tiṣṭhati: remains; stands
• tiṣṭhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धाातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular

• viprasya: of the Brahmin
• viprasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular

• viduṣaḥ: of the learned (man)
• viduṣaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular; adjective = 'learned'

• dehe: in the body
• dehe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• tāvat: so long
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Avyaya; correl. adverb (यावत्—तावत्) = 'so long/that long'

• brahma: Brahman; the Veda/sacred knowledge
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• kīrtayet: should recite/proclaim
• kīrtayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-yoga discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that Brahman-realization is not merely intellectual: even subtle residues of attachment (saṃskāra-like ‘odor’) obstruct stable knowledge, so inner purity is treated as a prerequisite for authentic Brahman-teaching.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds yogic ethical purification—reducing sneha (clinging) and its subtle taint—aligning with Kurma Purana’s discipline-oriented path where restraint, inner cleansing, and steadiness precede public instruction in brahma-vidyā.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s synthesis: whether framed as Shaiva (Pāśupata-like purification) or Vaiṣṇava (Kūrma’s instruction), the same standard holds—purity and yogic fitness are essential before transmitting the highest non-dual truth.