Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Kali-yuga Dharma, and the Prohibition of Śiva-Nindā

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

ध्यानं होमं तपस्तप्तं ज्ञानं यज्ञादिको विधिः / तेषां विनश्यति क्षिप्रं ये निन्दन्ति पिनाकिनम्

Transliteration

dhyānaṃ homaṃ tapastaptaṃ jñānaṃ yajñādiko vidhiḥ / teṣāṃ vinaśyati kṣipraṃ ye nindanti pinākinam

Translation

Méditation, homa (offrande au feu), austérités bien accomplies, connaissance spirituelle et rites prescrits tels que les sacrifices—tout cela s’évanouit promptement chez ceux qui outragent Pinākin (Śiva, porteur de l’arc Pināka).

Word by Word

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (list item as subject)

• होमम्: fire-offering (homa)
• होमम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (list item)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (list item)

• तप्तम्: performed / heated (undertaken)
• तप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप् (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तपः इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (list item)

• यज्ञ-आदिकः: beginning with sacrifice, etc.
• यज्ञ-आदिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञः आदिः यस्य = beginning with sacrifice)

• विधिः: rite / prescribed practice
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विनश्यति: perishes / is destroyed
• विनश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• निन्दन्ति: censure / revile
• निन्दन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पिनाकिनम्: Pinākin (Śiva)
• पिनाकिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शिवस्य नाम (bearer of Pināka bow)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing on dharma and the Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pinākin (Śiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that true spiritual attainment is inseparable from reverence to Īśvara; practices like jñāna, tapas, and yajña lose their saving power when rooted in hostility toward Śiva, indicating that the Supreme is honored through non-sectarian devotion and right orientation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse explicitly names dhyāna (meditation) and tapas (austerity) alongside homa and yajña, teaching that yogic and ritual disciplines must be supported by proper bhāva (reverent disposition) toward Śiva as part of the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning ethical framework.

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

With Viṣṇu (as Lord Kūrma) warning against reviling Śiva, it reinforces the Purāṇic non-dual harmony: honoring Śiva is not opposed to Vaiṣṇava devotion but integral to it, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.