Shloka 129

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

न केवलेन योगेन दृश्यते पुरुषः परः / ज्ञानं तु केवलं सम्यगपवर्गफलप्रदम्

Transliteration

na kevalena yogena dṛśyate puruṣaḥ paraḥ / jñānaṃ tu kevalaṃ samyagapavargaphalapradam

Translation

The Supreme Person is not realized by yoga alone; rather, true knowledge alone—when perfectly established—bestows the fruit of liberation (apavarga).

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• केवलेन: by mere/only
• केवलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (योगेन सह सामनाधिकरण्ये पुंलिङ्ग-तृतीया), तृतीया, एकवचन; योग इति विशेषण

• योगेन: by Yoga
• योगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दृश्यते: is seen/realized
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• पुरुषः: the Person (Puruṣa)
• पुरुषः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परः: supreme
• परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुरुषः इति विशेषण

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• केवलम्: alone; pure
• केवलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ज्ञानम् इति विशेषण

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: properly, fully)

• अपवर्गफलप्रदम्: granting the fruit of liberation
• अपवर्गफलप्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपवर्ग + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; from प्र + दा/दा ‘to give’)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध: अपवर्गस्य फलम्; तत् प्रददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ज्ञानम् इति विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/seekers in a liberation-teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa (Supreme Self)
• Yoga
• Jñāna
• Apavarga (Liberation)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Puruṣa as not merely an object attained through technique; realization culminates in right knowledge (jñāna) that directly yields liberation (apavarga).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implicitly critiques “yoga alone” as insufficient by itself; in the Kurma Purana’s framework, yogic discipline is supportive, but liberating completion requires samyak-jñāna (correct insight) to ripen practice into moksha.

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

By prioritizing liberating knowledge over sectarian method, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology: the Supreme (addressed by Kūrma/Vishnu) is realized through truth-knowledge consistent with Shaiva-Pashupata and Vaishnava soteriology rather than exclusive identity claims.