Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 83

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः / शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति तत्पदम्

Transliteration

nirāśīryatacittātmā tyaktasarvaparigrahaḥ / śārīraṃ kevalaṃ karma kurvannāpnoti tatpadam

Translation

ফলাকাঙ্ক্ষাহীন, চিত্ত ও আত্মা সংযত, সকল পরিগ্রহ ত্যাগ করে, যে কেবল দেহধারণের প্রয়োজনীয় কর্ম করে—সে সেই পরম পদ লাভ করে।

Word by Word

• निराशीः: without desire
• निराशीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + आशिन्/आशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘without expectation’

• यतचित्तात्मा: one whose mind is controlled
• यतचित्तात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत + चित्त + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यतं चित्तं यस्य सः; आत्मा = person)

• त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः: one who has abandoned all possessions
• त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त + सर्व + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (सर्वपरिग्रहं त्यक्तवान्)

• शारीरम्: bodily
• शारीरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कर्म’ इति विशेषण (bodily)

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कर्म’ इति विशेषण (only)

• कर्म: action
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुर्वन्: doing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्पदम्: that state/abode
• तत्पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य पदम् = that state)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Indradyumna
• Ishvara Gita

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies the Supreme is reached not by outward accumulation but by inner freedom—desirelessness, self-restraint, and non-possessiveness—revealing liberation as a state (padam) attained through purified agency rather than mere ritual or acquisition.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights Karma-yoga supported by tyaga and citta-nirodha: restraining the mind, abandoning possessiveness, and performing only necessary duties (śārīra-karma) without craving results—an inner discipline aligned with the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita and its Pashupata-oriented ethic of purification.

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

By teaching liberation through disciplined action and renunciation as a universal dharmic method, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same highest padam is approached through yogic purity taught by Vishnu (Kurma) in a framework resonant with Shaiva-Pashupata ideals.