Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

मोहयन्ति जनान् सर्वान् दर्शयित्वा फलानि च / तमसाविष्टमनसो वैडालवृत्तिकाधमाः

Transliteration

mohayanti janān sarvān darśayitvā phalāni ca / tamasāviṣṭamanaso vaiḍālavṛttikādhamāḥ

Translation

Ils abusent tous les hommes en exhibant de prétendus « fruits » comme preuve ; ces êtres les plus vils—dont l’esprit est saisi par les ténèbres—égarent le monde, vivant selon des manières basses, félines, d’hypocrisie et de furtivité.

Word by Word

• मोहयन्ति: they delude
• मोहयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• जनान्: people
• जनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (जनान्)

• दर्शयित्वा: having shown
• दर्शयित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), णिच् (causative) ‘दर्शय’ + क्त्वा

• फलानि: fruits/results
• फलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तमसा: by darkness/ignorance
• तमसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• आविष्ट-मनसः: whose minds are possessed/overcome
• आविष्ट-मनसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आविष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ√विश्) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुवचन-रूप ‘मनसः’ (प्रथमा बहुवचन) as in मनस्-शब्द; तत्पुरुषः (आविष्टं मनः येषाम्)

• वैडाल-वृत्तिक-अधमाः: the lowest, with cat-like ways
• वैडाल-वृत्तिक-अधमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैडाल (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘वैडालवृत्तिक’ = cat-like livelihood/behavior; अधम = lowest

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (context of dharma and discernment)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• tamas (guṇa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it warns that flashy “fruits” and displays can mislead; realization of Self is not proven by show but by inner purity and freedom from tamas (ignorance).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic discernment (viveka) and sattva-building discipline—avoiding tamasic influences and suspicious “quick results,” aligning practice with dharma rather than performance.

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

By stressing a shared dharmic-yogic standard: whether framed in Shaiva Pāśupata or Vaiṣṇava devotion, authentic spiritual life rejects tamasic deception and values inner transformation.