Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Varnāśrama-Krama, Vairāgya as the Ground of Saṃnyāsa, and Brahmārpaṇa Karma-yoga

Devanagari script

संप्राप्य परमं ज्ञानं नैष्कर्म्यं तत्प्रसादतः / एकाकी निर्ममः शान्तो जीवन्नेव विमुच्यते

Transliteration

saṃprāpya paramaṃ jñānaṃ naiṣkarmyaṃ tatprasādataḥ / ekākī nirmamaḥ śānto jīvanneva vimucyate

Translation

その御恩寵により至上の智慧とナイシュカルミヤを得た者は、内なる没入において独りとなり、我が物の執着を離れ、静謐となる。そして生きながらにして解脱する。

Word by Word

• संप्राप्य: having attained
• संप्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having attained’

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (ज्ञानम्)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• नैष्कर्म्यम्: actionlessness
• नैष्कर्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैष्कर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• तत्प्रसादतः: by his grace
• तत्प्रसादतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषाधारित अव्यय (तस्य प्रसादात् = from his grace)

• एकाकी: solitary
• एकाकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (अध्याहृतः साधकः)

• निर्ममः: without possessiveness
• निर्ममः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शान्तः: peaceful
• शान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (शम् धातोः क्त)

• जीवन्: living
• जीवन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ): पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘while living’

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• विमुच्यते: is freed/liberated
• विमुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is liberated)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on liberation through jñāna and grace

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Īśvara (the Lord)
• jñāna
• naiṣkarmya
• jīvanmukti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that supreme knowledge culminates in naiṣkarmya—freedom from karmic compulsion—where the realized person abides in inner solitude, peace, and non-possessiveness, indicating Self-realization that is independent of external conditions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights a jñāna-centered discipline supported by Īśvara-prasāda (divine grace): withdrawing into inner aloneness (ekākī), dissolving possessiveness (nirmama), and stabilizing the mind in peace (śānta)—all characteristic of contemplative Yoga leading to jīvanmukti.

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

By grounding liberation in ‘His grace’ and supreme knowledge, the verse reflects the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian Īśvara principle—where the liberating Lord is one, honored through both Shaiva and Vaishnava lenses in Kurma Purana’s synthesis.