Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 26
Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge
पुष्पमूलफलैर्वापि केवलैर्वर्तयेत् सदा / स्वाभाविकैः स्वयं शीर्णैर्वैखानसमते स्थितः
puṣpamūlaphalairvāpi kevalairvartayet sadā / svābhāvikaiḥ svayaṃ śīrṇairvaikhānasamate sthitaḥ
In der vaikhānasa‑Disziplin gefestigt, soll er sich stets nur von Blumen, Wurzeln und Früchten erhalten—vor allem von dem, was von Natur aus verfügbar ist und von selbst herabfällt.
Narrator (Purāṇic instruction to the aspirant within the Vaikhānasa/vanaprastha context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By prescribing restraint, non-appropriation, and simplicity, the verse supports inner purification—an essential prerequisite for steady contemplation of the Self beyond bodily cravings and possessiveness.
It emphasizes yama-like disciplines—especially aparigraha (non-possessiveness) and ahiṃsā (non-harming)—through a forest-dweller’s diet of naturally fallen, minimally taken foods, which stabilizes the mind for japa, dhyāna, and tapas.
While not naming either deity directly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s shared Shaiva–Vaishnava ethic: disciplined conduct and tapas are common gateways to realizing the one Lord (Īśvara) taught across both traditions.