Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Kali-yuga Dharma, and the Prohibition of Śiva-Nindā

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

ये तु दक्षाध्वरे शप्ता दधीयेन द्विजोत्तमाः / भविष्यन्ति कलौ भक्तैः परिहार्याः प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

ye tu dakṣādhvare śaptā dadhīyena dvijottamāḥ / bhaviṣyanti kalau bhaktaiḥ parihāryāḥ prayatnataḥ

Translation

Para dvija utama yang dikutuk oleh Dadhīca pada yajña Dakṣa akan muncul pada zaman Kali; para bhakta hendaknya menghindari mereka dengan sungguh-sungguh.

Word by Word

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• दक्ष-अध्वरे: in Dakṣa’s sacrifice
• दक्ष-अध्वरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षस्य अध्वरः = Dakṣa's sacrifice)

• शप्ताः: cursed
• शप्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शप् (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ये इति कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्

• दधीयेन: by Dadhīci
• दधीयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ऋषिनाम (by Dadhīci)

• द्विज-उत्तमाः: excellent brāhmaṇas
• द्विज-उत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रेष्ठा द्विजाः)

• भविष्यन्ति: will be / will become
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कलौ: in Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; युगे (in the age)

• भक्तैः: by devotees
• भक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण/सहकारक (by/with devotees)

• परिहार्याः: to be avoided
• परिहार्याः: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-हृ (धातु) + ण्यत्/यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्/ण्यत्: gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be avoided)

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort / diligently
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb: with great effort)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing (within the Kurma Purana narrative to the sages/Indradyumna stream of discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Dadhichi
• Kali-yuga
• Dvija (Brahmins)
• Bhakta (devotees)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it prioritizes devotion grounded in discernment (viveka). The Atman-oriented devotee safeguards spiritual clarity by avoiding cursed/adharmic influences that obstruct inner realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A foundational discipline supportive of Yoga: saṅga-tyāga (avoiding harmful association). In the Kurma Purana’s yogic-ethical frame, purity of company sustains mantra-japa, dhyāna, and steadiness in bhakti.

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

By emphasizing dharma and devotion over sectarian identity: the teaching aligns with the Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis—true devotion (to Īśvara) includes ethical discernment, regardless of external labels.