Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 146

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

Devanagari script

वामं पाशुपतं सोमं लाकुलं चैव भैरवम् / असेव्यमेतत् कथितं वेदवाह्यं तथेतरम्

Transliteration

vāmaṃ pāśupataṃ somaṃ lākulaṃ caiva bhairavam / asevyametat kathitaṃ vedavāhyaṃ tathetaram

Translation

Die Wege Vāma, Pāśupata, Sauma, Lākula und Bhairava sind als nicht zu befolgen erklärt worden, da sie außerhalb der Veden stehen und ebenso der rechten vedischen Lebensführung widersprechen.

Word by Word

• वामम्: left-hand (Vāmācāra)
• वामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata (sect/doctrine)
• पाशुपतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• सोमम्: Soma (sect/doctrine)
• सोमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• लाकुलम्: Lākula (sect/doctrine)
• लाकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• भैरवम्: Bhairava (sect/doctrine)
• भैरवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• असेव्यम्: not to be practiced
• असेव्यम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असेव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Neuter, Nominative singular)

• कथितम्: is said/declared
• कथितम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कथ्यते’ इत्यर्थे (said/declared)

• वेदवाह्यम्: outside the Veda
• वेदवाह्यम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + वाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वेदात् बाह्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nominative singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चय-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• इतरम्: the other (also)
• इतरम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nominative singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (context of Upari-bhaga teachings)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Pāśupata
• Sauma (Soma)
• Lākula (Lakulīśa)
• Bhairava
• Veda

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it prioritizes Veda-aligned discipline as the reliable means for realizing the highest truth, implying that liberation-oriented knowledge must be grounded in Vedic dharma rather than transgressive or anti-Vedic systems.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as a boundary-marker: it discourages resorting to certain sectarian observances deemed ‘outside the Veda’, thereby steering aspirants toward Veda-sanctioned Shaiva-Vaishnava yogic discipline (niyama, purity, and scriptural conformity) rather than extreme or rule-breaking rites.

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

With Vishnu (as Lord Kūrma) regulating Shaiva practice through Vedic standards, it reflects the Purana’s synthesis: devotion to Shiva is upheld when harmonized with Vedic dharma, not when framed as anti-Vedic opposition.