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Shloka 19

Varnāśrama-Krama, Vairāgya as the Ground of Saṃnyāsa, and Brahmārpaṇa Karma-yoga

कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं सङ्गवर्जितम् / क्रियते विदुषा कर्म तद्भवेदपि मोक्षदम्

kāryamityeva yatkarma niyataṃ saṅgavarjitam / kriyate viduṣā karma tadbhavedapi mokṣadam

La acción que está fijada como deber prescrito y se realiza sin apego, sólo porque “debe hacerse”, cuando la emprende el sabio, puede incluso otorgar la liberación (mokṣa).

kāryam(it is) to be done / duty
kāryam:
Prayojaka-bhāva (वाक्य-प्रयोग/उक्तिः)
TypeNoun
Rootkārya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); इति-पूर्वकं वाक्यांश (quoted predicate)
itithus
iti:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), उद्धरण-चिह्न (quotative particle)
evaindeed / only
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), अवधारण (emphasis/only)
yatwhich
yat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धक (relative) qualifying karma
karmaaction
karma:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
niyatamprescribed / regulated
niyatam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootniyata (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of karma
saṅga-varjitamfree from attachment
saṅga-varjitam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootsaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + varjita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vṛj/varj)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'saṅgaṃ varjitam' (devoid of attachment)
kriyateis done
kriyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)
viduṣāby a wise person
viduṣā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)
karmaaction
karma:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); पुनरुक्ति for emphasis
tatthat
tat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
bhavetwould become / may become
bhavet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative/विध्यर्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)
apieven
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), अपि-भाव (even/also)
mokṣa-damliberation-giving
mokṣa-dam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootmokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + da (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dā)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'mokṣaṃ dadāti' (giving liberation)

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and liberating action (karma-yoga)

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

K
Kurma
V
Vishnu
M
Moksha
K
Karma
D
Dharma

FAQs

By teaching action without attachment, the verse points to inner freedom: when the sense of doership and craving for results is relinquished, the Self is no longer bound by karma, making realization (and thus liberation) possible.

It emphasizes karma-yoga: disciplined performance of prescribed duties (niyata-karma) with saṅga-tyāga (renunciation of attachment). This is a foundational purification practice that supports higher yogic absorption and knowledge.

The teaching aligns with shared yogic-dharmic principles honored in both Shaiva and Vaishnava streams—purifying action offered without attachment—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach rather than sectarian opposition.