Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 94

Dakṣa-yajña-bhaṅgaḥ — Dadhīci’s Teaching and the Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

त्यक्त्वा तपोबलं कृत्स्नं विप्राणां कुलसंभवाः / पूर्वसंस्कारमहात्म्याद् ब्रह्मणो वचनादिह

Transliteration

tyaktvā tapobalaṃ kṛtsnaṃ viprāṇāṃ kulasaṃbhavāḥ / pūrvasaṃskāramahātmyād brahmaṇo vacanādiha

Translation

In den Geschlechtern brahmanischer Weisen geboren, legten sie hier ihre gesamte Kraft der Askese beiseite—bewegt von der Größe früherer Samskāras und im Gehorsam gegenüber dem Wort Brahmās.

Word by Word

• tyaktvā: having abandoned
• tyaktvā: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययकृदन्त)

• tapo-balam: the power of austerity
• tapo-balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); compound: tapasaḥ balam (power of austerity)

• kṛtsnam: entire / whole
• kṛtsnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtsna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with tapo-balam

• viprāṇām: of the Brahmins
• viprāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kula-saṃbhavāḥ: lineage-born (descendants)
• kula-saṃbhavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: kulāt saṃbhavāḥ (born from a lineage)

• pūrva-saṃskāra-mahātmyāt: due to the greatness of former saṃskāras
• pūrva-saṃskāra-mahātmyāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃskāra (प्रातिपदिक) + mahātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); compound: pūrvasya saṃskārasya mahātmyāt (from the greatness of prior impressions/rites)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• vacanāt: from the command/word
• vacanāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa/Adhikaraṇa (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Vipras (Brahmin sages)
• Saṃskāra (latent impressions)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to the Purāṇic view that inner spiritual momentum (pūrva-saṃskāra) guides beings beyond egoic reliance on “my power,” preparing the seeker for surrender to the higher ordinance that ultimately leads toward Self-realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tapas as a yogic force (tapo-bala) while also teaching that even ascetic attainments may be relinquished when dharma and divine instruction require—an attitude aligned with disciplined renunciation and surrender found across Kurma Purana’s yoga-ethics.

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

This specific verse does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu; it underscores obedience to Brahmā and the force of samskāras, themes that support the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis where divine authority and dharma guide practice beyond sectarian rivalry.