Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

सत्यं सन्तोष आस्तिक्यं श्रद्धा चेन्द्रियनिग्रहः / देवताभ्यर्चनं पूजा ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः

Transliteration

satyaṃ santoṣa āstikyaṃ śraddhā cendriyanigrahaḥ / devatābhyarcanaṃ pūjā brāhmaṇānāṃ viśeṣataḥ

Translation

सत्य, संतोष, आस्तिक्य, श्रद्धा और इन्द्रियनिग्रह; तथा देवताओं का अर्चन-पूजन और विशेषतः ब्राह्मणों की सेवा-पूजा—ये धर्म के स्तम्भ कहे गए हैं।

Word by Word

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

• सन्तोषः: contentment
• सन्तोषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• आस्तिक्यम्: faith in the Veda/God (āstikya)
• आस्तिक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्तिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• श्रद्धा: faith
• श्रद्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

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

• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: restraint of the senses
• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय + निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणां निग्रहः/इन्द्रियनिग्रहः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• देवताभ्यर्चनम्: worship of deities
• देवताभ्यर्चनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + अभ्यर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (देवताभ्यः अभ्यर्चनम्/देवताभ्यर्चनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• पूजा: reverential worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय; adverb ('especially')

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing (in a dharma-teaching context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devatāḥ (the deities)
• Brāhmaṇas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames dharma as inner purification—truth, contentment, faith, and sense-restraint—which prepares the mind for realizing Ātman by reducing rajas-tamas and stabilizing sattva.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes indriya-nigraha (sense-control) and śraddhā/āstikya as core prerequisites for Yoga-sādhana; in Kurma Purana’s spiritual discipline, ethical restraint and devotional worship support deeper concentration and contemplative practice.

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

By prioritizing devatā-arcana (worship of the deities) without sectarian exclusion, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where devotion and dharma can be offered across divine forms within a unified Īśvara-centered framework.