Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

पाषण्डिनो विकर्मस्थान् वामाचारांस्तथैव च / पञ्चरात्रान् पाशुपतान् वाङ्मात्रेणापि नार्चयेत्

Transliteration

pāṣaṇḍino vikarmasthān vāmācārāṃstathaiva ca / pañcarātrān pāśupatān vāṅmātreṇāpi nārcayet

Translation

One should not honor—even by mere words—sectarians and heretics, those established in forbidden acts, and those who follow the left-hand path; likewise, in this prescribed context of worship, one should not pay reverence to Pañcarātra adherents or to the Pāśupatas.

Word by Word

• पाषण्डिनः: heretics
• पाषण्डिनः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; (छन्दोऽनुसारं रूपम्)

• विकर्मस्थान्: those situated in forbidden acts
• विकर्मस्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकर्म-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—विकर्मणि स्थिताः/विकर्मस्य स्थानम् इति (तत्पुरुष)

• वामाचारान्: followers of left-hand practices
• वामाचारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम-आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—वामः आचारः (कर्मधारय)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यत्वबोधक (adverb: ‘likewise’)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

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

• पञ्चरात्रान्: Pāñcarātra adherents
• पञ्चरात्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—पञ्च रात्राः यस्य/सम्बद्धाः (द्विगु)

• पाशुपतान्: Pāśupatas
• पाशुपतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• वाक्: by speech/word
• वाक्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; (समासपूर्वपदत्वे रूपम् ‘वाङ्’)

• मात्रेण: merely/only
• मात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘only/merely’ अर्थे

• अपि: even
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थे (even/also)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अर्चयेत्: one should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial/śāstric instruction within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching frame (traditionally conveyed in the Kurma Purana dialogue setting).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Pāṣaṇḍa
• Vāma-ācāra
• Pañcarātra
• Pāśupata

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; it emphasizes dharmic discernment (viveka) in worship—maintaining śāstric boundaries and avoiding endorsement of paths judged incompatible with the text’s prescribed discipline.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is taught in this verse; it functions as an ācāra-vidhi rule—cautioning that spiritual practice must be supported by right conduct and that one should not legitimize (even verbally) systems deemed deviant in this chapter’s framework.

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

It does not present a unity teaching explicitly; rather, it shows the Purana’s concern for regulated worship boundaries while naming both Vaiṣṇava (Pañcarātra) and Śaiva (Pāśupata) streams—indicating a polemical, context-specific restriction rather than a universal denial of either tradition.