Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

विस्त्रस्तवस्त्राभरणास्त्यक्त्वा लज्जां पतिव्रताः / सहैव तेन कामार्ता विलासिन्यश्चरन्तिहि

Transliteration

vistrastavastrābharaṇāstyaktvā lajjāṃ pativratāḥ / sahaiva tena kāmārtā vilāsinyaścarantihi

Translation

Mit zerzausten Gewändern und Schmuck, die Scham beiseite werfend—obwohl an das Gelübde der treuen Gattin gebunden—streiften jene lustsuchenden Frauen, von Begierde gequält, wahrlich in spielerischem Liebesgebaren mit ihm umher.

Word by Word

• विस्त्रस्त-वस्त्र-आभरणाः: with garments and ornaments disheveled
• विस्त्रस्त-वस्त्र-आभरणाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्त्रस्त (त्रस् धातु, क्त/कृदन्त) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (वस्त्राणि च आभरणानि च) ततः ‘विस्त्रस्त’ इति विशेषणम्; ‘विलासिन्यः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (fem nom pl)

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having abandoned’

• लज्जाम्: modesty
• लज्जाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (fem acc sg)

• पति-व्रताः: chaste wives, devoted women
• पति-व्रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पतेः व्रतम् यस्याः) ‘devoted-to-husband’ (fem nom pl)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपपद (indeclinable: ‘together with’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/निश्चयार्थक (particle of emphasis: ‘indeed/just’)

• तेन: with him
• तेन: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (instr sg: ‘with him’)

• काम-आर्ताः: tormented by desire
• काम-आर्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (ऋ धातु, क्त/कृदन्ताधारित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कामेन आर्ताः) ‘afflicted by desire’; ‘विलासिन्यः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (fem nom pl)

• विलासिन्यः: playful/beautiful women
• विलासिन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलासिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन (fem nom pl)

• चरन्ति: they go about
• चरन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम् (they move/walk)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: ‘indeed/for’)

Speaker

Narrator voice within the Purāṇic discourse (contextual teaching on kāma and dharma, framed in the Kurma Purana’s didactic style)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by portraying kāma-driven loss of modest restraint, it contrasts the Atman’s steadiness with the mind’s agitation—implying that self-knowledge requires mastery over desire and sensory turbulence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports the Kurma Purana’s broader yogic ethic of vairāgya (dispassion) and indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint), foundational disciplines that prepare one for dhyāna and higher Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis teachings.

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

It does not mention Shiva or Vishnu explicitly; its takeaway aligns with the Purana’s shared Shaiva–Vaishnava moral psychology: conquering kāma is prerequisite to realizing the one Lord taught through both traditions.