Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजपं बुधाः / सत्त्वशुद्धिकरं पुंसां स्वाध्यायं परिचक्षते

Transliteration

vedāntaśatarudrīyapraṇavādijapaṃ budhāḥ / sattvaśuddhikaraṃ puṃsāṃ svādhyāyaṃ paricakṣate

Translation

Die Weisen bezeichnen als svādhyāya die ehrfürchtige Rezitation von Vedānta, Śatarudrīya sowie das Japa des Praṇava (Oṁ) und ähnlicher heiliger Formeln, weil sie das sattva—die innere Klarheit—des Menschen läutert.

Word by Word

• वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजपम्: japa of Vedānta, Śatarudrīya, Praṇava, etc.
• वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शतरुद्रीय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; सूची-तत्पुरुष: 'वेदान्त-शतरुद्रीय-प्रणव-आदि (मन्त्र)-जपम्'

• बुधाः: the wise
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• सत्त्वशुद्धिकरम्: causing purity of mind (sattva)
• सत्त्वशुद्धिकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्वशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'सत्त्वशुद्धेः करम्' qualifying 'स्वाध्यायम्'

• पुंसाम्: of men/of people
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), बहुवचन

• स्वाध्यायम्: self-study/recitation
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• परिचक्षते: they describe/call
• परिचक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vedanta
• Śatarudrīya
• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Rudra (Shiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By defining svādhyāya as Vedānta-recitation, the verse points toward Upaniṣadic self-knowledge: inner purification (sattva-śuddhi) is presented as the necessary ground for realizing the Self taught by Vedānta.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-japa and scriptural recitation—especially Oṁ (praṇava) and the Śatarudrīya—as practical disciplines that cleanse the mind’s sattva, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita emphasis on inner purity as a prerequisite for Yoga and devotion.

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

Spoken in a Vishnu-centered discourse yet recommending the Śatarudrīya hymn to Rudra, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: devotion and study may honor Rudra and Praṇava within a unified path to purification and realization.