Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

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

Devanagari script

योगाभ्यासरतो नित्यमारुरुक्षुर्जितेन्द्रियः / ज्ञानाय वर्तते भिक्षुः प्रोच्यते पारमेष्ठिकः

Transliteration

yogābhyāsarato nityamārurukṣurjitendriyaḥ / jñānāya vartate bhikṣuḥ procyate pārameṣṭhikaḥ

Translation

जो सदा योगाभ्यास में रत, समाधि-आरोहण का अभिलाषी और इन्द्रियों को जीत चुका हो—ऐसा भिक्षु जो केवल मोक्षदायी ज्ञान के लिए ही प्रवृत्त रहता है, वह ‘पारमेष्ठिक’, अर्थात् परमेश्वर-समन्वित कहा जाता है।

Word by Word

• योगाभ्यासरतः: engaged in the practice of yoga
• योगाभ्यासरतः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग-अभ्यास-रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—योगाभ्यासे रतः (locative-tatpuruṣa sense)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आरुरुक्षुः: desiring to ascend (to higher knowledge)
• आरुरुक्षुः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु) + उ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—देशिदेरिवेटिव/इच्छार्थक (desiderative sense) ‘to wish to ascend’

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः

• ज्ञानाय: for knowledge
• ज्ञानाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• वर्तते: conducts himself / lives
• वर्तते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भिक्षुः: a mendicant
• भिक्षुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोच्यते: is called / is said to be
• प्रोच्यते: क्रिया (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• पारमेष्ठिकः: a Pārameṣṭhika (highest-class ascetic)
• पारमेष्ठिकः: प्रत्यय/विशेष्य (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारमेष्ठिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Parameshvara
• Bhikshu
• Yoga
• Jnana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that liberation-oriented knowledge (jñāna) arises when the senses are mastered and yoga is practiced steadily, culminating in alignment with the Supreme (Parameśvara/Parameṣṭhin), i.e., realization of the highest Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes sustained yogābhyāsa (continuous disciplined practice), sense-restraint (jitendriyatā), and the aspirant-stage (ārurukṣu) orientation toward higher absorption—practiced as a renunciant whose life is directed to liberating wisdom.

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

By using the title Parameśvara/Parameṣṭhin as the supreme referent while spoken by Lord Kurma (Vishnu), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the Supreme Lord is affirmed beyond exclusive Shaiva–Vaishnava division.