Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 143

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

Devanagari script

एष पाशुपतो योगः सेवनीयो मुमुक्षुभिः / भस्मच्छन्नैर्हि सततं निष्कामैरिति विश्रुतिः

Transliteration

eṣa pāśupato yogaḥ sevanīyo mumukṣubhiḥ / bhasmacchannairhi satataṃ niṣkāmairiti viśrutiḥ

Translation

This is the Pāśupata Yoga, to be diligently practiced by those who seek liberation. Tradition declares that it is to be followed constantly by those who are smeared with sacred ash and who are free from selfish desire.

Word by Word

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• पाशुपतः: Pāśupata
• पाशुपतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण of योगः

• योगः: yoga/practice
• योगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• सेवनीयः: to be practised
• सेवनीयः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेवनीय (कृदन्त; √सेव् धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: 'to be served/practised'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; predicate adjective

• मुमुक्षुभिः: by seekers of liberation
• मुमुक्षुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुमुक्षु (प्रातिपदिक; इच्छार्थक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; Instrumental/agent in passive sense

• भस्मच्छन्नैः: covered with ash
• भस्मच्छन्नैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म + छन्न (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय; छन्न = कृदन्त from √छद्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (भस्मना छन्नाः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; qualifier of मुमुक्षुभिः

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal)

• सततम्: always/constantly
• सततम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) नित्यत्ववाचक

• निष्कामैः: desireless
• निष्कामैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; qualifier of मुमुक्षुभिः

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative)

• विश्रुतिः: tradition/renown (it is said)
• विश्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on Pāśupata Yoga within the Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava synthesis of the Kūrma Purāṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Pāśupata Yoga
• Pāśupati (Shiva)
• Bhasma (Vibhuti)
• Moksha (Mukti)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By insisting on niṣkāmatā (desirelessness) and constant discipline, the verse points to liberation as arising from inner detachment and steady yogic absorption, where the Self is realized beyond craving and ego-driven action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights Pāśupata Yoga as a continuous sādhana characterized by ash-bearing (bhasma/vibhūti as a marker of renunciation and purity) and niṣkāma practice—performing spiritual discipline without personal motive, oriented toward mokṣa.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) endorsing Pāśupata Yoga of Pāśupati (Shiva), the text models a non-sectarian, integrative stance where devotion and liberation-teachings are shared across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frameworks.