Shloka 114

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

वर्णाश्रमाणामाचाराः प्रायश्चित्तविधिस्ततः / कपालित्वं च रुद्रस्य भिक्षाचरणमेव च

Transliteration

varṇāśramāṇāmācārāḥ prāyaścittavidhistataḥ / kapālitvaṃ ca rudrasya bhikṣācaraṇameva ca

Translation

Se enseñan las normas de conducta para las diversas varṇas y āśramas, y luego los preceptos de expiación (prāyaścitta); así como la condición de Rudra como asceta portador de cráneo (kapālika) y su misma práctica de vivir de la limosna.

Word by Word

• वर्णाश्रमाणाम्: of the varṇas and āśramas
• वर्णाश्रमाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्णाश्रम (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ण + आश्रम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (varṇāḥ ca āśramāḥ ca)

• आचाराः: conducts/practices
• आचाराः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विषय (codes of conduct)

• प्रायश्चित्तविधिः: the rule of expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तविधिः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्तविधि (प्रातिपदिक; प्रायश्चित्त + विधि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रायश्चित्तस्य विधिः)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (thereafter/then)

• कपालित्वम्: skull-bearing asceticism
• कपालित्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपालित्व (प्रातिपदिक; कपालिन् + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (state of being a skull-bearer)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• रुद्रस्य: of Rudra
• रुद्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of Rudra)

• भिक्षाचरणम्: going for alms
• भिक्षाचरणम्: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षाचरण (प्रातिपदिक; भिक्षा + चरण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भिक्षायाः चरणम् = going for alms)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (indeed/only)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages in a dharma-teaching sequence

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Varna
• Ashrama
• Prayashcitta
• Kapālika observance

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames liberation-oriented teaching through dharma—right conduct (ācāra), purification (prāyaścitta), and renunciant models (Rudra’s bhikṣā-caryā)—as preparatory disciplines that steady the mind for realizing the Self beyond ritual and social identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic prerequisites rather than a specific technique: ethical discipline within varṇāśrama, purification through expiation, and ascetic restraint exemplified by Rudra’s mendicant life—supports for inner control (saṁyama) central to Pāśupata-leaning spirituality in the Kūrma tradition.

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

By having Lord Kūrma teach Rudra’s ascetic observance as authoritative dharma, the text signals reverence and doctrinal continuity—Vishnu’s instruction validates Śaiva ideals, reflecting the Purāṇa’s integrative (non-sectarian) Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.