Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

Yuga-Dharma: The Four Ages, Decline of Dharma, and the Rise of Social Order

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणं कल्पसूत्राणि मन्त्रप्रवचनानि च / इतिहासपुराणानि धर्मशास्त्राणि सुव्रत

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaṃ kalpasūtrāṇi mantrapravacanāni ca / itihāsapurāṇāni dharmaśāstrāṇi suvrata

Translation

O you of excellent vows, the Brāhmaṇas, the Kalpa-sūtras, the expositions of Mantras, the Itihāsas and Purāṇas, and the Dharma-śāstras—these are the authoritative śāstras that uphold dharma.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणम्: Brāhmaṇa (texts)
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma/Padartha (कर्म/पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सूचीकरणे (enumeration)

• कल्प-सूत्राणि: Kalpa-sūtras
• कल्प-सूत्राणि: Karma/Padartha (कर्म/पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कल्पस्य सूत्राणि)

• मन्त्र-प्रवचनानि: expositions of mantras
• मन्त्र-प्रवचनानि: Karma/Padartha (कर्म/पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मन्त्राणां प्रवचनानि)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• इतिहास-पुराणानि: Itihāsas and Purāṇas
• इतिहास-पुराणानि: Karma/Padartha (कर्म/पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक) + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (इतिहासानि च पुराणानि च)

• धर्म-शास्त्राणि: Dharma-śāstras
• धर्म-शास्त्राणि: Karma/Padartha (कर्म/पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य शास्त्राणि)

• सुव्रत: O one of good vows
• सुव्रत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुन्दरं व्रतं यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing Indradyumna (contextual dharma-upadeśa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Brāhmaṇa texts
• Kalpa-sūtras
• Itihāsa
• Purāṇa
• Dharma-śāstra

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it establishes śāstra as the reliable pramāṇa (means of knowledge) for dharma; in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, the same scriptural authority also grounds right knowledge that culminates in realization of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named; the verse emphasizes that any authentic sādhanā—whether Pāśupata-oriented discipline or other yogic practice—must be aligned with recognized śāstric sources (Vedic, sūtra, Itihāsa-Purāṇa, and Dharmaśāstra).

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

By foregrounding shared scriptural foundations (Veda, Itihāsa-Purāṇa, Dharmaśāstra) rather than sectarian exclusivity, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths are anchored in common śāstra.