Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 36

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge

Devanagari script

विविधाश्चोपनिषद आत्मसंसिद्धये जपेत् / विद्याविशेषान् सावित्रीं रुद्राध्यायं तथैव च

Transliteration

vividhāścopaniṣada ātmasaṃsiddhaye japet / vidyāviśeṣān sāvitrīṃ rudrādhyāyaṃ tathaiva ca

Translation

Untuk kesempurnaan realisasi Diri, hendaknya ia melantunkan berbagai Upanisad. Demikian pula ia menekuni pengetahuan suci khusus—Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) dan Rudrādhyāya—sesuai tata cara.

Word by Word

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• उपनिषदः: Upaniṣads
• उपनिषदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपनिषद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्

• आत्म-संसिद्धये: for self-realization
• आत्म-संसिद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + संसिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचनम्; आत्मसंसिद्धि = आत्मनः संसिद्धिः (for the perfection of the self)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्

• विद्या-विशेषान्: special teachings/knowledges
• विद्या-विशेषान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) बहुवचनम्; विद्याविशेष = विद्यायाः विशेषः (special forms of knowledge)

• सावित्रीम्: the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)
• सावित्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावित्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्

• रुद्र-अध्यायम्: the Rudra chapter/hymn
• रुद्र-अध्यायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्; रुद्राध्याय = रुद्रस्य अध्यायः (chapter/hymn of Rudra)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: in that manner/likewise)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/seekers on discipline for Self-realization

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Upanishads
• Savitri (Gayatri)
• Rudra
• Rudradhyaya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It treats Self-realization (ātma-saṃsiddhi) as the goal and presents Upaniṣadic recitation and mantra-vidyās as direct aids to awakening that inner knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Mantra-yoga through japa is emphasized—recitation of Upaniṣadic teachings along with focused repetition of Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) and Rudra-centered litany (Rudrādhyāya), integrating knowledge (jñāna) and disciplined practice (sādhana).

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

By recommending both Sāvitrī (a Vaidika solar-brahmanical mantra) and Rudrādhyāya (Rudra/Śiva devotion) as complementary means to ātma-siddhi, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where Shaiva and Vaishnava streams support a single liberating aim.