Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge

Devanagari script

योगाभ्यासरतश्च स्याद् रुद्राध्यायी भवेत् सदा / अथर्वशिरसो ऽध्येता वेदान्ताभ्यासतत्परः

Transliteration

yogābhyāsarataśca syād rudrādhyāyī bhavet sadā / atharvaśiraso 'dhyetā vedāntābhyāsatatparaḥ

Translation

Er soll der Übung des Yoga hingegeben sein und stets in Rezitation und Betrachtung Rudras verweilen. Er soll das Atharvaśiras (Upaniṣad) studieren und sich beharrlich der fortwährenden Disziplin des Vedānta widmen.

Word by Word

• योगाभ्यासरतः: one devoted to yoga-practice
• योगाभ्यासरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग-अभ्यास-रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—योगस्य अभ्यासे रतः (locative-relation)

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

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• रुद्राध्यायी: a reciter/student of (hymns to) Rudra
• रुद्राध्यायी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र-अध्यायी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रुद्रं अध्येति/अध्यायं करोति इति

• भवेत्: should become/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अथर्वशिरसः: of the Atharvaśiras (Upaniṣad/text)
• अथर्वशिरसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अध्येता: a student/reciter
• अध्येता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु) + तृच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun)

• वेदान्ताभ्यासतत्परः: intent on Vedānta practice
• वेदान्ताभ्यासतत्परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदान्त-अभ्यास-तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—वेदान्तस्य अभ्यासे तत्परः (devoted to practice of Vedānta)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing King Indradyumna and the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Atharvaśiras
• Vedānta
• Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing Vedānta-abhyāsa alongside disciplined Yoga, the verse points to Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna) as the culminating insight—realized through steady practice and contemplative study rather than mere ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes yogābhyāsa (regular yogic discipline) together with Rudra-adhyāyana—recitation and contemplative absorption in Rudra-mantras/teachings—forming a Pāśupata-leaning sādhana integrated with Vedāntic inquiry.

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

Viṣṇu (as Lord Kūrma) enjoins Rudra-upāsanā and Upaniṣadic Vedānta, reflecting the Purāṇa’s synthesis: devotion to Rudra and realization through Vedānta are affirmed within a Vaiṣṇava voice, indicating doctrinal harmony rather than sectarian opposition.