Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

त्यक्त्वा पुत्रादिषु स्नेहं निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः / संन्यस्य सर्वकर्माणि परं वैराग्यमाश्रितः

Transliteration

tyaktvā putrādiṣu snehaṃ nirdvandvo niṣparigrahaḥ / saṃnyasya sarvakarmāṇi paraṃ vairāgyamāśritaḥ

Translation

Nachdem er die Anhänglichkeit an Söhne und dergleichen aufgegeben hat, frei von den Gegensatzpaaren und ohne Besitzanspruch, und alle Handlungen entsagt, nimmt er Zuflucht zur höchsten Leidenschaftslosigkeit (parama-vairāgya).

Word by Word

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having abandoned'

• पुत्रादिषु: among sons and the like
• पुत्रादिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; आदि-समास (पुत्र-आदि = sons and the like)

• स्नेहम्: affection
• स्नेहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• निर्द्वन्द्वः: free from dualities
• निर्द्वन्द्वः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक विशेषण

• निष्परिग्रहः: without possessions
• निष्परिग्रहः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निस् + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक विशेषण

• संन्यस्य: having renounced
• संन्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु; संन्यास-धात्वर्थ)
• Form: ल्यप्/त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having renounced/laid down'

• सर्वकर्माणि: all actions
• सर्वकर्माणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: सर्वाणि कर्माणि

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वैराग्यम् इति विशेषण

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having resorted to
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√श्रि (धातु) + त (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Indradyumna
• Sannyasa
• Vairagya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing nirdvandva (freedom from dualities) and niṣparigraha (non-grasping), the verse points to the Atman as untouched by relations, possessions, and changing experiences; realization is supported by supreme vairagya and the renunciation of action-driven identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes the inner discipline foundational to Pashupata-oriented liberation: detachment from familial clinging, equanimity toward opposites, non-possessiveness, and the spirit of saṃnyāsa—conditions that stabilize meditation and devotion to Ishvara beyond ritual and egoic agency.

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

Though not naming Shiva directly, the teaching reflects the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara-centered synthesis: the same Supreme Lord (Ishvara) is approached through renunciation, equanimity, and devotion—principles shared across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths in this text.