Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Varnāśrama-Krama, Vairāgya as the Ground of Saṃnyāsa, and Brahmārpaṇa Karma-yoga

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मण्याधाय क्रमाणि निःसङ्गः कामवर्जितः / प्रसन्नेनैव मनसा कुर्वाणो याति तत्पदम्

Transliteration

brahmaṇyādhāya kramāṇi niḥsaṅgaḥ kāmavarjitaḥ / prasannenaiva manasā kurvāṇo yāti tatpadam

Translation

Celui qui remet toutes ses actions à Brahman—sans attachement, exempt de désir et agissant avec un esprit serein—atteint cet état suprême, la demeure la plus haute.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणि: in Brahman
• ब्रह्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• आधाय: having placed/fixed
• आधाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); 'having placed/fixed'

• क्रमाणि: steps, stages, procedures
• क्रमाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• निःसङ्गः: detached, without attachment
• निःसङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥsaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• काम-वर्जितः: free from desire
• काम-वर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + varjita (कृदन्त; वर्ज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रसन्नेन: with a serene (one)
• प्रसन्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (कृदन्त; सद्/सद्-प्रसद् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental qualifying मनसा

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कुर्वाणः: doing, performing
• कुर्वाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, parasmaipada); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• याति: goes, attains
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्-पदम्: that state/abode
• तत्-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वनामपूर्वपद); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (didactic discourse on Yoga and dharma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Brahman—the final “state/abode” reached not by abandoning action, but by dedicating action to the Supreme and dissolving attachment and desire, implying liberation through inner non-clinging.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes Karma-Yoga: performing one’s duties in an ordered way (kramāṇi) while offering them to Brahman, cultivating niḥsaṅgatā (non-attachment), kāma-tyāga (freedom from desire), and prasanna-manas (mental serenity).

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

By centering liberation on dedication to the Supreme (Brahman/Ishvara) rather than sectarian identity, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where Shaiva-Vaishnava paths converge in disciplined Yoga, offering, and detachment.