Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 107

Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī

Devanagari script

अशाश्वतं जगज्ज्ञात्वा ये ऽस्मिन् स्थाने वसन्ति वै / देहान्ते तत् परं ज्ञानं ददामि परमं पदम्

Transliteration

aśāśvataṃ jagajjñātvā ye 'smin sthāne vasanti vai / dehānte tat paraṃ jñānaṃ dadāmi paramaṃ padam

Translation

Knowing this world to be impermanent, those who truly dwell in this sacred place—at the end of the body (at death), to them I bestow that supreme knowledge and the highest state (the supreme abode).

Word by Word

• अशाश्वतम्: impermanent
• अशाश्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying जगत्)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• स्थाने: place
• स्थाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• वसन्ति: live, dwell
• वसन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

• देहान्ते: at the end of the body (at death)
• देहान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देहस्य अन्तः), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ज्ञान)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• परमम्: highest
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पदम्)

• पदम्: state, abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking as the supreme teacher of dharma and liberation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• kshetra (sacred place)
• parama jnana
• parama pada

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing the impermanence of the world, the verse points toward liberating knowledge (paraṃ jñānam) that culminates in the highest state (paramaṃ padam), implying realization of the timeless Self beyond bodily end.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes vairāgya (dispassion born from seeing the world as impermanent) and steady spiritual abiding (vasanti) in a sanctified discipline—supportive of jñāna-yoga and devotion-centered practice that ripens into liberating realization at life’s end.

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

Though spoken by Lord Kurma (Vishnu), the promise of “supreme knowledge” and “supreme state” aligns with the Purana’s integrated Shaiva-Vaishnava soteriology: liberation is one, granted by the Supreme Lord, honored across both traditions.