Shloka 15

Tāmasa Sarga, the Androgynous Division of Brahmā, and the Lineages of Dharma and Adharma

Devanagari script

श्रद्धा लक्ष्मीर्धृतिस्तुष्टिः पुष्टिर्मेधा क्रिया तथा / बुद्धिर्लज्जावपुः शान्तिः सिद्धिः कीर्तिस्त्रयोदशी

Transliteration

śraddhā lakṣmīrdhṛtistuṣṭiḥ puṣṭirmedhā kriyā tathā / buddhirlajjāvapuḥ śāntiḥ siddhiḥ kīrtistrayodaśī

Translation

Śraddhā (iman), Lakṣmī (kemakmuran), keteguhan, kepuasan, pemeliharaan, kecerdasan, dan tindakan benar; juga kebijaksanaan, rasa malu, keelokan, kedamaian, keberhasilan, dan kemasyhuran—itulah tiga belas sifat suci.

Word by Word

• श्रद्धा: faith
• श्रद्धा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• लक्ष्मीः: fortune, Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धृतिः: steadfastness
• धृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तुष्टिः: contentment
• तुष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुष्टिः: nourishment, prosperity
• पुष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मेधा: intelligence
• मेधा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रिया: action, rite
• क्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थक (indeclinable; connective/adverbial: 'also/and so')

• बुद्धिः: intellect
• बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लज्जा: modesty
• लज्जा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वपुः: body, form
• वपुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शान्तिः: peace
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सिद्धिः: success, attainment
• सिद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कीर्तिः: fame
• कीर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रयोदशी: the thirteenth (tithi)
• त्रयोदशी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-तिथिनाम (tithi-name 'thirteenth lunar day')

Speaker

Sūta (narrator), conveying the Kurma Purana’s teaching in context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Shraddha
• Buddhi
• Shanti
• Siddhi
• Kirti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By listing inner excellences like śānti (peace), buddhi (discernment), and dhṛti (steadfastness), the verse points to the purified mind through which the Atman is recognized—calm, luminous, and established in right understanding rather than mere external ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic prerequisites and fruits: śraddhā (faith) and dhṛti (steadiness) sustain practice; kriyā (disciplined action) indicates sādhana; śānti (inner peace) and siddhi (attainment) describe the maturation of practice aligned with Kurma Purana’s dharma-rooted yoga orientation.

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

Rather than sectarian claims, it presents shared dharmic-yogic qualities—peace, discernment, and auspicious prosperity—that both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths uphold, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative (synthesis) approach to devotion and liberation.