Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सर्वभूतेषु सर्वदा / अक्लेशजननं प्रोक्तं त्वहिंसा परमर्षिभिः

Transliteration

karmaṇā manasā vācā sarvabhūteṣu sarvadā / akleśajananaṃ proktaṃ tvahiṃsā paramarṣibhiḥ

Translation

By deed, by mind, and by speech—towards all beings, at all times—non-violence is declared by the supreme seers to be that which causes no affliction (to any).

Word by Word

• कर्मणा: by action
• कर्मणा: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सर्व-भूतेषु: towards/in all beings
• सर्व-भूतेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि भूतानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: विशेषण (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time): always

• अक्लेश-जननम्: the causing of no suffering
• अक्लेश-जननम्: विधेय (predicate nominative; definition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक) + जनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (नञ्-तत्पुरुष: क्लेशस्य अभावः → अक्लेश; अक्लेशस्य जननम् = producing non-affliction); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: क्रिया/विधेय (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र (उपसर्ग) + √वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), क्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अक्लेशजननम्’ इत्यस्य विधेय (predicate)

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/विरोध (indeed/but)

• अहिंसा: non-violence
• अहिंसा: विधेय/समानााधिकरण (appositional predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाक्ये ‘अक्लेशजननम्’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• परम-ऋषिभिः: by the great sages
• परम-ऋषिभिः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent in passive; कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (परमा ऋषयः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Paramarishis
• Sarvabhutas
• Ahimsa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By extending non-harm to all beings in thought, speech, and action, the verse implies a vision of shared Selfhood—one honors the same inner reality (Atman) present in all, making compassion a direct expression of spiritual insight.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes the Yogic triad of purification—kāya (body/action), vāk (speech), and manas (mind). In the Ishvara Gita frame, this is a foundational yama-like discipline supporting Pashupata-oriented self-restraint, inner calm, and non-injury as a prerequisite for higher meditation.

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

Though not naming Shiva or Vishnu directly, the teaching aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: the highest Dharma taught in the Ishvara Gita is universal and sect-transcending, consistent with the text’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis in which the same Supreme is approached through shared ethical-yogic disciplines.