Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

सत्येन लोकाञ्जयति सत्यं तत्परमं पदम् / यथाभूतप्रवाद् तु सत्यमाहुर्मनीषिणः

Transliteration

satyena lokāñjayati satyaṃ tatparamaṃ padam / yathābhūtapravād tu satyamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ

Translation

Par la vérité on conquiert les mondes ; la vérité, en effet, est l’état suprême. Les sages déclarent que la vérité consiste à dire les choses telles qu’elles sont réellement.

Word by Word

• सत्येन: by truth
• सत्येन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणार्थे (instrumental)

• लोकान्: worlds/people
• लोकान्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• जयति: conquers/wins
• जयति: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तत्-परमम्: that supreme
• तत्-परमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तत् परम् = that is supreme/that highest)

• पदम्: state/abode/position
• पदम्: विधेय/समानााधिकरण (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘सत्यम्’ इत्यस्य विधेय/समानााधिकरण

• यथा-भूत-प्रवादः: statement of things as they are
• यथा-भूत-प्रवादः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यथा भूतं प्रवादः = statement as it is)

• तु: and/but
• तु: वाक्य-निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक निपात (particle)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आहुः: said/called
• आहुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मनीषिणः: the wise
• मनीषिणः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage narration within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching context (instructional voice aligned with Lord Kurma’s dharmopadesha tradition).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Satya (Truth)
• Manishin (Wise sages)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents truth (satya) as the “supreme state” (paramaṃ padam), implying that realization and liberation are grounded in alignment with reality—seeing and speaking “as it is” (yathābhūta).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not naming a specific technique, it highlights satya as a foundational yama-like discipline: truthful speech and perception (yathābhūta) purify the mind, supporting steadiness needed for mantra, dhyāna, and Pashupata-oriented self-restraint.

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

Indirectly: by elevating satya as the supreme goal, it supports the Purana’s synthesis—devotion to either Shiva or Vishnu must be rooted in truth and right conduct, which is common ground across Shaiva-Vaishnava teachings.