Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

Mādhayameśvara-māhātmya — Vyāsa at Mandākinī and the Pāśupata Vision

Devanagari script

ओङ्कारासक्तमनसो वेदाध्ययनतत्पराः / जटिला मुण्डिताश्चापि शुक्लयज्ञोपवीतिनः

Transliteration

oṅkārāsaktamanaso vedādhyayanatatparāḥ / jaṭilā muṇḍitāścāpi śuklayajñopavītinaḥ

Translation

Their minds are absorbed in the sacred syllable Oṁ; they are devoted to the study and recitation of the Veda. Some wear matted locks, others are shaven-headed, and they bear the sacred thread (yajñopavīta) and ritual emblems in pure white.

Word by Word

• ओङ्कार-आसक्त-मनसः: whose minds are attached to Oṃ
• ओङ्कार-आसक्त-मनसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ओङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक) + आसक्त (कृदन्त, √सञ्ज्/सज्) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘येषां मनः ओङ्कारे आसक्तम्’ (whose minds are attached to Oṃ)

• वेद-अध्ययन-तत्पराः: devoted to studying the Vedas
• वेद-अध्ययन-तत्पराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-समासः—‘वेदाध्ययने तत्पराः’ (intent on Veda-study)

• जटिलाः: matted-haired
• जटिलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मुण्डिताः: shaven-headed
• मुण्डिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुण्डित (कृदन्त, भूतकृदन्त/PPP; √मुण्ड्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• शुक्ल-यज्ञोपवीतिनः: wearing white sacred threads
• शुक्ल-यज्ञोपवीतिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञोपवीतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘शुक्लं यज्ञोपवीतं येषां ते’ (wearing white sacred thread)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice, within a sage-to-sage transmission describing religious communities/ascetics)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Omkara
• Veda
• Yajñopavīta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing absorption in Oṁ (oṅkāra), the verse points to a contemplative focus on the primordial sound-symbol of Brahman/Īśvara—an inward orientation beyond mere external appearance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Oṁ-focused mental absorption (oṅkāra-dhyāna) coupled with disciplined Vedic study/recitation is implied—an integration of mantra-yoga and śāstra-adhyayana as a purifying sādhana.

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

Indirectly: it presents a shared orthodox ascetic-ritual culture (Oṁ, Veda, purity marks) that both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava streams accept, fitting the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing spirit even when specific deities are not named.