Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Kali-yuga Dharma, and the Prohibition of Śiva-Nindā

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

तस्मात् सा परिहर्तव्या निन्दा पशुपतौ द्विजाः / कर्मणा मनसा वाचा तद्भक्तेष्वपि यत्नतः

Transliteration

tasmāt sā parihartavyā nindā paśupatau dvijāḥ / karmaṇā manasā vācā tadbhakteṣvapi yatnataḥ

Translation

Darum, ihr Zweimalgeborenen, ist das Schmähen Paśupatis (Śivas) gänzlich zu meiden—durch Tat, durch Geist und durch Wort—und selbst seine Verehrer sollt ihr mit Sorgfalt nicht herabsetzen.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that reason)

• सा: that (censure)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (that/it)

• परिहर्तव्या: to be avoided / should be abandoned
• परिहर्तव्या: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-हृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्: gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be avoided)

• निन्दा: censure / slander
• निन्दा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सा इति सर्वनामस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• पशुपतौ: with regard to Paśupati (Śiva)
• पशुपतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशुपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे प्रयुक्तम् (vocative sense though form is nominative)

• कर्मणा: by action
• कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तद्-भक्तेषु: among his devotees
• तद्-भक्तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य भक्ताः = his devotees)

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• यत्नतः: carefully / with effort
• यत्नतः: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb: with effort/carefully)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages on dharma and Śiva-devotion (Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Paśupati (Śiva)
• Dvija (twice-born)
• Śiva-bhaktas (devotees of Śiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By prohibiting contempt toward Paśupati and His devotees, the verse implies a sacred presence in the Lord and those devoted to Him—training the seeker to perceive divinity and avoid ego-born separation that obscures realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes the ethical limb foundational to Yoga: purity in the three instruments—action, thought, and speech—by restraining nindā (reviling). Such discipline supports Pāśupata-oriented devotion and steadies the mind for contemplation.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) explicitly commanding reverence toward Paśupati (Śiva), the text presents harmony rather than rivalry—endorsing a non-sectarian, integrative Purāṇic vision.