Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 4

Gṛhastha Livelihood, Āpad-dharma, and Sacrificial Stewardship of Wealth

Devanagari script

स्वयं वा कर्षणं कुर्याद् वाणिज्यं वा कुसीदकम् / कष्टा पापीयसी वृत्तिः कुसीदं तद् विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

svayaṃ vā karṣaṇaṃ kuryād vāṇijyaṃ vā kusīdakam / kaṣṭā pāpīyasī vṛttiḥ kusīdaṃ tad vivarjayet

Translation

মানুহে নিজে খেতি কৰিব পাৰে বা বাণিজ্য কৰিব পাৰে; কিন্তু সুতত ধন ধাৰ দিয়া (কুসীদ) কঠোৰ আৰু অধিক পাপময় জীৱিকা—সেয়ে কুসীদ বর্জন কৰা উচিত।

Word by Word

• svayam: oneself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आत्मार्थक (by oneself)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• karṣaṇam: ploughing
• karṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; क्रियानाम (ploughing)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; (should do)

• vāṇijyam: trade
• vāṇijyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāṇijya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• kusīdakam: usury
• kusīdakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kusīdaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• kaṣṭā: hard/harsh
• kaṣṭā: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies vṛttiḥ)

• pāpīyasī: more sinful
• pāpīyasī: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpīyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; तरप्-भावः (comparative: worse/more sinful) विशेषणम्

• vṛttiḥ: livelihood
• vṛttiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• kusīdam: usury
• kusīdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kusīda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• tad: that
• tad: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• vivarjayet: should avoid
• vivarjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√vṛj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; (should avoid)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and proper livelihood

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• dharma
• kusida (usury)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that dharmic living supports inner purity (śuddhi), which is a prerequisite for steady insight into the Self; exploitative gain (usury) agitates the mind and obstructs that clarity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes yama-like ethical restraint through right livelihood (ājīvikā-śuddhi). In the Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-dharma framework, such restraint stabilizes the mind for japa, dhyāna, and devotion to Īśvara.

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

By focusing on shared dharma rather than sectarian identity: the ethical discipline praised here aligns with both Shaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaishnava ideals—purity of conduct as a foundation for devotion to the one Lord.