Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

पूजयध्वं सपत्नीकाः सादरं पुत्रसंयुताः / वैदिकैरेव नियमैर्विविधैर्ब्रह्मचारिणः

Transliteration

pūjayadhvaṃ sapatnīkāḥ sādaraṃ putrasaṃyutāḥ / vaidikaireva niyamairvividhairbrahmacāriṇaḥ

Translation

“Honor (them) with reverence—together with your wives and accompanied by your sons—(and let) the brahmacārins (act) only according to the various Vedic disciplines and observances.”

Word by Word

• pūjayadhvam: worship (you all)
• pūjayadhvam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sa-patnīkāḥ: together with (your) wives
• sa-patnīkāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + patnīkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); अव्ययीभावः ‘पत्नीभिः सह’ (together with wives)

• sa-ādaram: with reverence
• sa-ādaram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial): ‘आदरेण सह’

• putra-saṃyutāḥ: accompanied by sons
• putra-saṃyutāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); तृतीया/सह-भावार्थक-तत्पुरुषः (endowed/associated with sons)

• vaidikaiḥ: with Vedic
• vaidikaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaidika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying niyamaiḥ)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• niyamaiḥ: with observances/rules
• niyamaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vividhaiḥ: various
• vividhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying niyamaiḥ)

• brahmacāriṇaḥ: brahmacārins (celibate students/ascetics)
• brahmacāriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing in a dharma-teaching dialogue

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Brahmacarin
• Vaidika Niyama
• Grihastha (implied)
• Putra (sons)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma-oriented: it teaches disciplined conduct and reverent honoring of spiritual practitioners; it supports Atman-realization indirectly by emphasizing Vedic niyamas that purify the mind, a prerequisite for higher knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights niyama (observances/restraints) in a Vaidika framework—brahmacarya, regulated conduct, and ritual-ethical discipline—presented as the practical foundation that steadies the seeker for later yogic concentration and insight.

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

While Shiva is not named here, the instruction reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative ethos: Vishnu as Kūrma teaches Vedic discipline and reverence that also undergird Shaiva-Pāśupata-style ascetic purity, showing harmony in shared dharma rather than sectarian opposition.