Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

Dakṣa-yajña-bhaṅgaḥ — Dadhīci’s Teaching and the Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

यत्नात् परिहरेशस्य निन्दामात्मविनाशनीम् / भवन्ति सर्वदोषाय निन्दकस्य क्रिया यतः

Transliteration

yatnāt parihareśasya nindāmātmavināśanīm / bhavanti sarvadoṣāya nindakasya kriyā yataḥ

Translation

Qu’on évite avec soin de blâmer Īśa, car ce blâme détruit son propre être. En effet, les actes du calomniateur deviennent finalement la cause de toutes les fautes.

Word by Word

• यत्नात्: by effort
• यत्नात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; ‘from/through effort’

• परिहर: avoid
• परिहर: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ईशस्य: of the Lord
• ईशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• निन्दाम्: slander
• निन्दाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्म-विनाशनीम्: self-destroying
• आत्म-विनाशनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + विनाशनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (निन्दाम्); समासः—तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः विनाशनी)

• भवन्ति: become/arise
• भवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• सर्व-दोषाय: for all faults (i.e., leading to every fault)
• सर्व-दोषाय: Sampradana/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सर्वः दोषः)

• निन्दकस्य: of the slanderer
• निन्दकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दक (प्रातिपदिक; निन्द्-धातोः कर्तरि ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• क्रियाः: actions/deeds
• क्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कारणार्थक-सम्बन्ध (because/for)

Speaker

Narrator/Sage instructing on dharma (Purāṇic discourse tradition, aligned with the Kurma Purana’s teaching voice)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Isha (Īśa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames self-destruction as the karmic result of censuring Īśa: when one turns against the Lord, one’s own inner integrity (ātma-sādhana and spiritual welfare) collapses, and actions become tainted by doṣa.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies a foundational yama-like restraint: avoidance of nindā (malicious speech) toward Īśvara. In the Kurma Purana’s Yoga-ethics, purity of speech and reverence for the divine are prerequisites for steadiness in japa, dhyāna, and devotion.

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

By using the inclusive term Īśa (the Lord), it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: the supreme is to be honored without sectarian disparagement, aligning with Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony rather than rivalry.