Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

कुशीलचर्याः पाषण्डैर्वृथारूपैः समावृताः / बहुयाचनको लोको भविष्यति परस्परम्

Transliteration

kuśīlacaryāḥ pāṣaṇḍairvṛthārūpaiḥ samāvṛtāḥ / bahuyācanako loko bhaviṣyati parasparam

Translation

Les hommes seront recouverts d’une conduite vile et d’apparences hérétiques et creuses ; la société deviendra un perpétuel mendier les uns aux autres.

Word by Word

• कुशीलचर्याः: of base conduct/low practices
• कुशीलचर्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशील-चर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (adjective) लोकाः/जनाः (implicit)

• पाषण्डैः: by heretics/sectarians
• पाषण्डैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• वृथारूपैः: of vain/false appearance
• वृथारूपैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृथा-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (adjective) पाषण्डैः-विशेषणम्

• समावृताः: covered/enveloped
• समावृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-√वृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• बहुयाचनकः: given to much begging
• बहुयाचनकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु-याचनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective) लोकः-विशेषणम्

• लोकः: the world/people
• लोकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• भविष्यति: will become
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• परस्परम्: mutually/one another
• परस्परम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्परम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्यय; परस्पर (reciprocal adverb)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and the degenerative signs of Kali-yuga

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kali-yuga
• Pāṣaṇḍa (false sectarianism)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it contrasts inner dharma with “vṛthā-rūpa” (empty outer show), implying that spiritual truth is realized inwardly rather than through hypocritical appearances.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this line; it functions as a warning that authentic sādhanā (yoga/vrata/tapas) must be grounded in ethical conduct, not in sectarian display or pretended asceticism.

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

By condemning “pāṣaṇḍa” and hollow religiosity, it supports the Purana’s integrative stance: true devotion and yoga—whether framed as Shaiva (Pāśupata) or Vaishnava—must be sincere and dharma-aligned rather than divisive or performative.