Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 66

Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence

Devanagari script

कारवः शिल्पिनो वैद्या दासीदासास्तथैव च / दातारो नियमी चैव ब्रह्मविद्ब्रह्मचारिणौ

Transliteration

kāravaḥ śilpino vaidyā dāsīdāsāstathaiva ca / dātāro niyamī caiva brahmavidbrahmacāriṇau

Translation

Handwerker, Kunstschaffende, Ärzte sowie Dienerinnen und Diener; ebenso die Wohltätigen, der disziplinierte Beobachter von Selbstzucht, der Kenner Brahmans (Brahmavid) und der zölibatär lebende Schüler heiliger Lehre (brahmacārin) — alle sind hier mitgemeint.

Word by Word

• कारवः: artisans; craftsmen
• कारवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शिल्पिनः: craftsmen; artists
• शिल्पिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिल्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वैद्याः: physicians
• वैद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दासी: female servants
• दासी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) (दास्यः इत्यर्थे)

• दासाः: male servants
• दासाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चयार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction 'and')

• दातारः: givers; donors
• दातारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नियमी: a self-restrained person; observer of rules
• नियमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) (समूहवाचक/जातिवाचक प्रयोगः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात

• ब्रह्मवित्: knower of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; विद्-धातुज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः विद् = ब्रह्मविद्)

• ब्रह्मचारिणौ: two brahmacārins; students observing celibacy
• ब्रह्मचारिणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि चारिन्)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Kurma Purana’s dharma-yoga framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Brahman
• Brahmacharin

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By placing the “knower of Brahman” (brahmavid) alongside social roles, the verse implies that realization of Brahman/Atman is a distinct spiritual attainment that can stand beyond occupation—yet can arise within an ordered dharmic life.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to niyama (disciplined observance/restraints) and brahmacarya (celibate studentship) as foundational yogic supports—ethical and regulative limbs that stabilize the mind for higher knowledge (brahma-vidyā).

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

Indirectly: it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative dharma-yoga ethos—where Vishnu as Kurma teaches disciplines (niyama, brahmacarya) that also underpin Shaiva/Pashupata sādhanā, showing a shared spiritual grammar rather than sectarian division.