Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 13
Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)
अलिङ्गी लिङ्गिवेषेण यो वृत्तिमुपजीवति / स लिङ्गिनां हरेदेनस्तिर्यग्योनौ च जायते
aliṅgī liṅgiveṣeṇa yo vṛttimupajīvati / sa liṅgināṃ haredenastiryagyonau ca jāyate
जो वास्तव में वैरागी नहीं, पर वैरागी का वेश धरकर जीविका चलाता है, वह सच्चे तपस्वियों का पुण्य हर लेता है; उस पाप से वह तिर्यक्-योनि में भी जन्म पाता है।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu), instructing on dharma and false asceticism
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It implies that spiritual life is grounded in inner truth (antar-bhāva) rather than external signs; alignment with the Self requires sincerity and purity, not mere costume.
The verse foregrounds yama-like ethical restraints—truthfulness and non-deception—as prerequisites for Yoga; without moral integrity, outer “yogic” appearance becomes adharma and obstructs spiritual realization.
By stressing inner realization over sectarian or external markers, it supports the Purana’s integrative stance: authentic devotion and discipline—whether framed in Shaiva-Pashupata or Vaishnava terms—depend on inner purity, not outward labels.