Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा स तद्राज्यं निधायात्मभवे नृपः / जगामारण्यमनघस्तपश्चर्तुमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

evamuktvā sa tadrājyaṃ nidhāyātmabhave nṛpaḥ / jagāmāraṇyamanaghastapaścartumanuttamam

Translation

Ayant ainsi parlé, ce roi sans tache confia son royaume à son propre fils, puis gagna la forêt afin d’accomplir des austérités sans égales.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), manner adverb

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √vac ‘to speak’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally, Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nidhāya: having entrusted/placed
• nidhāya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√dhā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from ni√dhā ‘to place/entrust’

• ātma-bhave: in his own son (heir)
• ātma-bhave: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘in/into his own son’ (आत्मनः भवः = पुत्रः)

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• araṇyam: to the forest
• araṇyam: Gati-karma/Karma (गतिकर्म/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anaghaḥ: blameless
• anaghaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of cartum

• cartum: to practice
• cartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), from √car ‘to practice/perform’

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; superlative sense ‘unsurpassed’

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator continuing the account of the king’s renunciation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• King (nṛpa)
• son (ātma-bhava)
• forest (āraṇya)
• tapas (austerity)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By highlighting renunciation and tapas, the verse implies that realization is pursued by turning inward—placing duty in order (handing over the kingdom) and then seeking the highest good through disciplined practice aimed at the Self beyond worldly sovereignty.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tapas as a yogic discipline—withdrawal to the forest (āraṇya) to live with restraint, simplicity, and sustained spiritual effort, a common Kurma Purana pathway aligned with Pashupata-oriented ascetic training and inner purification.

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

While not naming either deity, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s shared ideal across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams: liberation is pursued through dharma-ordered renunciation and tapas, a discipline honored in both traditions and central to their synthesis in this Purana.