Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Yuga-Dharma: The Four Ages, Decline of Dharma, and the Rise of Social Order

Devanagari script

अस्मिन् कलियुगे घोरे लोकाः पापानुवर्तिनः / भविष्यन्ति महापापा वर्णाश्रमविवर्जिताः

Transliteration

asmin kaliyuge ghore lokāḥ pāpānuvartinaḥ / bhaviṣyanti mahāpāpā varṇāśramavivarjitāḥ

Translation

In diesem schrecklichen Kali-Yuga werden die Menschen dem Weg der Sünde folgen; sie werden zu großen Sündern werden und die Ordnungen von Varṇa und Āśrama (die überlieferte Ordnung heiliger Pflichten) verlassen.

Word by Word

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कलियुगे: in the Kali age
• कलियुगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘कलियुगे’

• लोकाः: people
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पाप-अनुवर्तिनः: following sin, sinful followers
• पाप-अनुवर्तिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + अनु-वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठीभावः (पापम् अनुवर्तन्ते ये); विशेषणं ‘लोकाः’

• भविष्यन्ति: will become
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• महापापाः: great sinners
• महापापाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान्तः पापाः); विशेषणं ‘लोकाः’

• वर्णाश्रम-विवर्जिताः: devoid of varṇa and āśrama (social-religious orders)
• वर्णाश्रम-विवर्जिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + वि-वर्जित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वर्णाश्रमयोः विवर्जिताः); विशेषणं ‘लोकाः’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages (Kurma Purana dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kali-yuga
• varṇāśrama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames Kali-yuga as an age where outer discipline collapses; the Purāṇic remedy is re-centering life on dharma and inner restraint so the Self’s clarity is not obscured by pāpa-driven conduct.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse stresses ethical prerequisites rather than a technique: abandoning varṇāśrama signals loss of yama-niyama-like discipline; Kurma Purana’s Yoga orientation (including Pāśupata-tinged devotion and restraint) presumes moral order as the ground for sādhana.

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

By presenting a shared dharma-framework: whether approached through Viṣṇu as Kūrma or Śiva-centered Pāśupata ideals, the text treats varṇāśrama-based discipline and sin-avoidance as common foundations for realizing the one Supreme.