Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

महाप्रास्थानिकं चासौ कुर्यादनशनं तु वा / अग्निप्रवेशमन्यद् वा ब्रर्ह्मार्पणविधौ स्थितः

Transliteration

mahāprāsthānikaṃ cāsau kuryādanaśanaṃ tu vā / agnipraveśamanyad vā brarhmārpaṇavidhau sthitaḥ

Translation

In der Disziplin der Selbsthingabe an Brahman (brahmārpaṇa-vidhi) gefestigt, mag er den Großen Aufbruch (mahāprāsthāna) vollziehen oder das Fasten bis zum Tod (anaśana) üben; oder ins Feuer eingehen oder eine andere letzte Handlung dieser Art vollbringen, während er in jenem Brahman-Opferritus unbeirrt verweilt.

Word by Word

• महाप्रास्थानिकम्: the great departure (rite)
• महाप्रास्थानिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + प्रास्थानिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्; महाप्रास्थानिक = महत् प्रास्थानिकम् (the great departure/mahāprasthāna rite)

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

• असौ: he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (pronoun: he)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्

• अनशनम्: fasting (unto death)
• अनशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्

• तु: or/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विरोध/विभेदार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive: or)

• अग्नि-प्रवेशम्: entering into fire
• अग्नि-प्रवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + प्रवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्; अग्निप्रवेश = अग्नौ प्रवेशः (entering fire)

• अन्यत्: another (act)
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (or)

• ब्रह्म-अर्पण-विधौ: in the rite of offering to Brahman
• ब्रह्म-अर्पण-विधौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + अर्पण + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative) एकवचनम्; ब्रह्मार्पणविधि = ब्रह्मणि अर्पणस्य विधिः (rite/procedure of offering to Brahman)

• स्थितः: standing/abiding
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले (past participle); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; कर्तरि प्रयोगे (as predicate adjective)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and renunciant discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Brahmārpaṇa (self-offering to Brahman)
• Mahāprāsthāna
• Anaśana
• Agni (fire)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames liberation as brahmārpaṇa—offering the entire self into Brahman—implying that the final aim is identity with, or absorption into, the supreme Reality rather than attachment to bodily continuance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The emphasis is on steadfast inner resolve (sthitaḥ) in brahmārpaṇa-vidhi: a yogic surrender where the mind is fixed on Brahman, and outer acts (mahāprāsthāna, anaśana, etc.) are secondary expressions of that renunciant concentration.

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

By centering the goal on Brahman-offering rather than a sectarian endpoint, it reflects the Purana’s synthetic stance: devotion and discipline culminate in the one Supreme Reality honored across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths.