Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Avimukta-Māhātmya — Vyāsa in Vārāṇasī and Śiva’s Secret Teaching of Liberation

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचर्यमथो मौनमन्ये प्राहर्महर्षयः / अहिंसां सत्यमप्यन्ये संन्यासमपरे विदुः

Transliteration

brahmacaryamatho maunamanye prāharmaharṣayaḥ / ahiṃsāṃ satyamapyanye saṃnyāsamapare viduḥ

Translation

Manche großen Seher sagen, Dharma sei Brahmacarya und das Gelübde des Schweigens (mauna). Andere lehren Gewaltlosigkeit (ahiṃsā) und Wahrhaftigkeit (satya); wieder andere verstehen, dass Entsagung (saṃnyāsa) selbst Dharma ist.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy; brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + चर्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• अथो: and also
• अथो: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ + उ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (and then/also)

• मौनम्: silence
• मौनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• प्राहुः: declare/say
• प्राहुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• महर्षयः: great sages
• महर्षयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to अन्ये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक; महा+ऋषि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• अहिंसाम्: non-violence
• अहिंसाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक; अ + हिंसा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• संन्यासम्: renunciation
• संन्यासम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संन्यास (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+नि+अस्/यास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• विदुः: know/consider
• विदुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narratorial teaching within the Kurma Purana’s dharma discourse (sages’ viewpoints summarized in the text)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maharshis
• Brahmacharya
• Mauna
• Ahimsa
• Satya
• Sannyasa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By emphasizing restraint (brahmacarya, mauna) and moral purity (ahiṃsā, satya), the verse points to inward purification as the practical means by which the Atman’s clarity is realized—dharma is framed as disciplines that remove obscurations rather than mere belief.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights foundational yogic restraints: control of senses (brahmacarya), control of speech (mauna), and ethical yamas (ahiṃsā, satya), culminating in saṃnyāsa as total dis-identification from possessiveness—core supports for meditation and Pashupata-style inner detachment.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s synthesis by presenting dharma as universal disciplines (yama/niyama and renunciation) that serve devotion and liberation across sectarian lines—compatible with both Shaiva (Pashupata) and Vaishnava orientations.