Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 70
Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara
एकेनाप्यथ हीनेन व्रतमस्य तु लुप्यते / तस्मादात्मगुणोपेतो मद्व्रतं वोढुमर्हति
ekenāpyatha hīnena vratamasya tu lupyate / tasmādātmaguṇopeto madvrataṃ voḍhumarhati
たとえ一つの規定が欠けても、この誓戒は損なわれる。ゆえに、自制と内なるアートマンの徳を具えた者のみが、我が誓戒を受け持ち、守り抜くにふさわしい。
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita section
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It implies that spiritual practice succeeds only when rooted in ātmaguṇa—inner virtues like self-mastery and purity—showing that realization is not merely external ritual but an inwardly grounded discipline.
The verse stresses yogic integrity: observances (vrata/niyama-like disciplines) must be complete and supported by self-control and steadiness—key prerequisites in the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita ethos and its Pashupata-oriented sadhana.
By presenting “My vow” as a universal dharmic-yogic discipline grounded in inner virtues, the teaching aligns with the Purana’s synthesis where Shaiva-Pashupata discipline and Vaishnava devotion converge in a single standard of spiritual qualification.