Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 5

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas — Brahmahatyā, Association with the Fallen, and Tīrtha-Based Purification

Devanagari script

अनाहिताग्नयो विप्रास्त्रयो वेदार्थपारगाः / यद् ब्रूयुर्धर्मकामास्ते तज्ज्ञेयं धर्मसाधनम्

Transliteration

anāhitāgnayo viprāstrayo vedārthapāragāḥ / yad brūyurdharmakāmāste tajjñeyaṃ dharmasādhanam

Translation

Walau mereka tidak memelihara api suci, tiga resi Brahmana itu menguasai makna Weda. Apa pun yang mereka nyatakan dengan hasrat menegakkan dharma, hendaknya dipahami sebagai sarana sejati untuk mencapai dharma.

Word by Word

• anāhita-agnayaḥ: without (maintained) sacred fires
• anāhita-agnayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-āhita (कृदन्त from ā+√dhā) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः (अनाहिताः अग्नयः यस्य/येषाम्) used adjectivally for persons; ‘without established fires’

• viprāḥ: brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying ‘viprāḥ’

• veda-artha-pāragāḥ: who have reached the far shore of Vedic meaning (fully learned)
• veda-artha-pāragāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda + artha + pāra + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः (वेदार्त्थस्य पारं गताः)

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun; object of ‘brūyuḥ’

• brūyuḥ: should say
• brūyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dharma-kāmāḥ: desirous of dharma
• dharma-kāmāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य कामाः)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; demonstrative pronoun referring to the three vipras

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता/predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative; subject/predicate base for ‘jñeyam’

• jñeyam: should be known/considered
• jñeyam: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (धातु) → jñeya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्/अनीयर् sense), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘to be known/considered’

• dharma-sādhanam: a means to dharma
• dharma-sādhanam: Karta (कर्ता/predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य साधनम्) predicate nominative

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing in a dharma-śāstra register

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)
• Veda
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it emphasizes a practical epistemology for dharma—relying on realized Vedic purport as conveyed by dharma-intent sages—supporting the Purāṇic view that right knowledge guides right action toward the highest good.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific āsana, prāṇāyāma, or dhyāna is taught here; the verse highlights dharma as a discipline (niyama-like) grounded in guidance from Veda-knowing sages, which in the Kurma Purana functions as the ethical foundation that supports higher Yoga and devotion.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu unity; indirectly, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis by treating dharma as rooted in Vedic purport and saintly instruction—an authority honored across both Śaiva (including Pāśupata) and Vaiṣṇava traditions.