Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

भैक्षाशनं च मौनित्वं तपो ध्यानं विशेषतः / सम्यग्ज्ञानं च वैराग्यं धर्मो ऽयं भिक्षुके मतः

Transliteration

bhaikṣāśanaṃ ca maunitvaṃ tapo dhyānaṃ viśeṣataḥ / samyagjñānaṃ ca vairāgyaṃ dharmo 'yaṃ bhikṣuke mataḥ

Translation

Von Almosen leben, Schweigen (mauna) bewahren, Tapas üben und vor allem Dhyāna; dazu rechtes Wissen und Vairāgya (Unverhaftetsein)—dies wird als Dharma des Bettelmönchs (bhikṣu) verkündet.

Word by Word

• भैक्ष-आशनम्: eating alms-food
• भैक्ष-आशनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + आशन (प्रातिपदिक; √अश् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (भिक्षया आशनम्)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• मौनित्वम्: silence (vow of silence)
• मौनित्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौनित्व (प्रातिपदिक; मौन + इत्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• सम्यक्-ज्ञानम्: right knowledge
• सम्यक्-ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सम्यक् एव ज्ञानम्)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्मः: duty; dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भिक्षुके: for a mendicant
• भिक्षुके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; ‘भिक्षुके’ = ‘भिक्षोः/भिक्षुकस्य’ इत्यर्थे (for a mendicant)

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: Pradhana-vidheya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक; √मन् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on renunciant dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Bhikshu (mendicant)
• Dhyana
• Vairagya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By prioritizing samyagjñāna (right knowledge) supported by vairāgya and dhyāna, the verse implies that realization is inward and knowledge-based—Atman is approached through disciplined contemplation and freedom from attachment rather than ritual display.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds dhyāna (meditative absorption) as the chief practice, supported by tapas (austerity), mauna (silence), and a renunciant livelihood (alms). Together these form a practical yogic regimen aimed at stabilizing the mind for liberating knowledge.

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

While not naming Shiva explicitly, the stress on tapas–dhyāna–jñāna–vairāgya aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: Vishnu (as Kurma) teaches a discipline strongly resonant with Shaiva/Pāśupata yogic ideals, presenting a shared soteriological path.