Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Svāyambhuva Lineage to Dakṣa; Pṛthu’s Devotion; Pāśupata Saṃnyāsa; Dakṣa–Satī Episode

Devanagari script

सो ऽनुगृह्याथ राजानं सुशीलं शीलसंयुतम् / शिष्यत्वे परिजग्राह तपसा क्षीणकल्पषम्

Transliteration

so 'nugṛhyātha rājānaṃ suśīlaṃ śīlasaṃyutam / śiṣyatve parijagrāha tapasā kṣīṇakalpaṣam

Translation

Alors, lui accordant sa grâce, il accepta comme disciple le roi, doux et doté d’une conduite noble, car ses fautes avaient été usées par l’austérité.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; pronoun

• अनुगृह्य: having blessed
• अनुगृह्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having favoured/after blessing’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तरार्थक/क्रमसूचक)

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘accepted’

• सुशीलम्: of good conduct
• सुशीलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुशील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies राजानम्

• शील-संयुतम्: endowed with virtue
• शील-संयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘endowed with virtue/conduct’

• शिष्यत्वे: into discipleship
• शिष्यत्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in/into discipleship’

• परिजग्राह: accepted (took)
• परिजग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrument/means

• क्षीण-कल्मषम्: with sins diminished
• क्षीण-कल्मषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीण (कृदन्त; √क्षि क्षये) + कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies राजानम्—‘whose sin/impurity is diminished’

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the guru–disciple acceptance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• King (rājā)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it teaches that realization is approached through inner purification: when impurity (kalmasha) is reduced by tapas and character (śīla), one becomes fit for liberating instruction about the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity/discipline) is emphasized as a core yogic means of purification and qualification—an essential foundation for receiving upadeśa (formal spiritual instruction) in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented framework.

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

Though not naming Shiva or Vishnu explicitly, it reflects the Purana’s shared Shaiva–Vaishnava ethos: grace (anugraha) and ascetic purification (tapas) together authorize discipleship, a theme common to both Pashupata and Vaishnava soteriology.