Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

ये यजन्ति जपैर्हेमैर्देवदेवं महेश्वरम् / स्वाध्यायेनेज्यया दूरात् तान् प्रयत्नेन वर्जय

Transliteration

ye yajanti japairhemairdevadevaṃ maheśvaram / svādhyāyenejyayā dūrāt tān prayatnena varjaya

Translation

Diejenigen, die Mahādeva—den Gott der Götter, Maheshvara—nur durch Mantra-Japa „verehren“, vom Gold verlockt, und das vedische Selbststudium (svādhyāya) sowie das wahre Opfer (yajña) hintanstellen, meide von fern mit entschlossener Anstrengung.

Word by Word

• ye: who (those who)
• ye: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (Prathama), Plural

• yajanti: worship
• yajanti: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज्)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Plural

• japaiḥ: with chants/prayers
• japaiḥ: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (जप)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (Tritiya), Plural

• hemaiḥ: with gold (offerings)
• hemaiḥ: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: heman (हेमन्)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (Tritiya), Plural

• devadevam: God of gods
• devadevam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devadeva (देवदेव)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Singular

• maheśvaram: Great Lord (Shiva)
• maheśvaram: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (महेश्वर)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Singular

• svādhyāyena: through self-study
• svādhyāyena: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādhyāya (स्वाध्याय)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (Tritiya), Singular

• ijyayā: through sacrifice/worship
• ijyayā: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ijyā (इज्या)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (Tritiya), Singular

• dūrāt: from a distance
• dūrāt: Apadana (Source/Separation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūra (दूर)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (Panchami), Singular

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Plural

• prayatnena: with effort/carefully
• prayatnena: Karana (Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रयत्न)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (Tritiya), Singular

• varjaya: avoid/leave aside
• varjaya: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj (वृज्)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), Madhyama Purusha (2nd), Singular; Causative (Nich)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional instruction of the Kurma Purana’s teaching line to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Shiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it prioritizes inner purity and scriptural discipline (svādhyāya) over showy, wealth-driven religiosity—implying that spiritual realization depends on sattvic conduct rather than external display.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Japa is acknowledged, but the verse warns against japa corrupted by material motives; it elevates svādhyāya (disciplined recitation/study) and ijyā (proper worship) as foundations that support authentic yogic steadiness and devotion.

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

By treating Maheśvara as worthy of true, dharmic worship (not transactional worship), it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s harmonizing stance: devotion must be pure, and sectarian labels are secondary to right practice and right intention.