Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

ध्यायिनो निर्ममान् शान्तान् धार्मिकान् वेदपारगान् / जापिनस्तापसान् विप्रान् दूरतः परिवर्जय

Transliteration

dhyāyino nirmamān śāntān dhārmikān vedapāragān / jāpinastāpasān viprān dūrataḥ parivarjaya

Translation

Halte dich fern von Brahmanen, die in Meditation versunken sind—ohne Besitzanspruch, friedvoll, im Dharma gefestigt und der Veden kundig—sowie von denen, die Japa und Tapas (Askese) üben.

Word by Word

• ध्यायिनः: meditators
• ध्यायिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘meditators’ (पाठे ध्यायिनो इति रूपभेदः)

• निर्ममान्: free from ‘mine’-ness
• निर्ममान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि: + मम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; निः-उपसर्गपूर्वक ‘without possessiveness’

• शान्तान्: peaceful
• शान्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• धार्मिकान्: righteous
• धार्मिकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेदपारगान्: those who have mastered the Veda
• वेदपारगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य पारगाः)

• जापिनः: japa-practitioners
• जापिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘chanters (of japa)’ (पाठे जापिनस्ति रूपभेदः)

• तापसान्: ascetics
• तापसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विप्रान्: brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दूरतः: from afar
• दूरतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• परिवर्जय: avoid/shun
• परिवर्जय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narratorial/Didactic voice of the Purana (instructional dharma passage within Kurma Purana context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Vipra
• Japa
• Tapas
• Dhyana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it points to the inner path—dhyāna, japa, and tapas—by which seekers quiet possessiveness and attain śānti, the mental purity required for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Dhyāna (meditative absorption), japa (mantra repetition), and tapas (austerity). The verse stresses a supportive environment: do not interrupt advanced practitioners whose discipline sustains yogic steadiness.

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

Not by naming them, but by emphasizing shared yogic-dharmic values (tapas, japa, dhyāna) central to both Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative, non-sectarian spiritual ethic.