Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 13

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

आसने शयने याने नैव तिष्ठेत् कदाचन / धावन्तमनुधावेत गच्छन्तमनुगच्छति

Transliteration

āsane śayane yāne naiva tiṣṭhet kadācana / dhāvantamanudhāveta gacchantamanugacchati

Translation

When a revered person is seated, reclining, or riding, one should never remain standing. If he runs, one should run after him; if he walks, one should walk along with him.

Word by Word

• आसने: on a seat
• आसने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative), एकवचन

• शयने: on a bed
• शयने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• याने: in a vehicle
• याने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• तिष्ठेत्: should stand/remain
• तिष्ठेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कदाचन: ever
• कदाचन: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• धावन्तम्: one who is running
• धावन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धाव् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘running (one)’

• अनुधावेत: should run after
• अनुधावेत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + धाव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गच्छन्तम्: one who is going
• गच्छन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘going (one)’

• अनुगच्छति: follows/goes after
• अनुगच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional narrator (Purāṇic instruction on sadācāra, framed as dharma-teaching within the Kurma Purana’s discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Elder (Vṛddha)
• Ācārya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches humility and self-restraint, which purify the mind (antaḥkaraṇa). Such purification is a prerequisite for Atman-realization taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana’s higher spiritual sections.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes discipline akin to yama/niyama—respect, attentiveness, and surrender in service (sevā). This ethical training stabilizes the practitioner for mantra, meditation, and Shaiva–Vaishnava devotional Yoga emphasized in the text.

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

Not explicitly; it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis by grounding devotion and spiritual practice in dharmic conduct—an ethical foundation shared by both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths.