Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

न कुर्यान्मानसं विप्रो गुरोस्त्यागे कदाचन / मोहाद्वा यदि वा लोभात् त्यक्तेन पतितो भवेत्

Transliteration

na kuryānmānasaṃ vipro gurostyāge kadācana / mohādvā yadi vā lobhāt tyaktena patito bhavet

Translation

A brāhmaṇa should never, even in thought, entertain abandoning his guru. If through delusion or greed he forsakes him, then by that very act of forsaking he becomes fallen.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; sandhi in text: कुर्यान्

• mānasam: mental (in mind)
• mānasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (त्यागम्/कर्म)

• vipraḥ: a brāhmaṇa
• vipraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• guroḥ: of the teacher
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• tyāge: in abandoning (him)
• tyāge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

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

• mohāt: from delusion
• mohāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• lobhāt: from greed
• lobhāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lobha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• tyaktena: by/through the act of abandoning; by one abandoned
• tyaktena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tyakta (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय, √tyaj धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• patitaḥ: fallen (from status)
• patitaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय, √pat धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (विप्रः)

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and guru-niṣṭhā

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it teaches that spiritual downfall arises from inner defects (moha, lobha) and mental transgression; purity of mind and right guidance are required for steady realization of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights the foundational yogic discipline of guru-niṣṭhā (steadfastness to the teacher) and mental restraint; without these, higher practices—mantra, dhyāna, and Pāśupata-oriented sādhana—are considered unstable.

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

By stressing guru-devotion as a universal dharmic prerequisite for liberation, it aligns with the Purana’s synthesis: whether one follows Śaiva (Pāśupata) or Vaiṣṇava paths, fidelity to authentic guidance and inner purity is essential.