Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 41

Dāna-dharma: Types of Charity, Worthy Recipients, Vrata-Timings, and Śiva–Viṣṇu Propitiation

Devanagari script

भोगकामस्तु शशिनं बलकामः समीरणम् / मुमुक्षुः सर्वसंसारात् प्रयत्नेनार्चयेद्धरिम्

Transliteration

bhogakāmastu śaśinaṃ balakāmaḥ samīraṇam / mumukṣuḥ sarvasaṃsārāt prayatnenārcayeddharim

Translation

享楽を望む者は月を礼拝し、力を望む者は風を礼拝せよ。だが一切の輪廻（サンサーラ）からの解脱を求めるムムクシュは、努め励んでハリを礼拝すべきである。

Word by Word

• भोग-कामः: one who desires enjoyment
• भोग-कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भोगस्य कामः)

• तु: and/but
• तु: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• शशिनम्: Śaśin (the Moon)
• शशिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बल-कामः: one who desires strength
• बल-कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बलस्य कामः)

• समीरणम्: Samīraṇa (Wind)
• समीरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मुमुक्षुः: a seeker of liberation
• मुमुक्षुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मुमुक्षु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इच्छार्थक-उणादि/कृदन्त (desiderative sense: ‘desirous to be liberated’)

• सर्व-संसारात्: from the entire worldly existence
• सर्व-संसारात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वः संसारः)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (in the Purāṇic teaching context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Shashī (Candra)
• Samīraṇa (Vāyu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It distinguishes limited, result-based worship (for bhoga and bala) from Hari-upāsanā aimed at freedom from saṃsāra, implying that liberation is attained by turning toward the Supreme Lord as the transcendent ground beyond all finite fruits.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse stresses prayatna (disciplined effort) and single-pointed devotion (upāsanā/arcana) directed to Hari as the liberating orientation—aligning with Purāṇic yoga where right intention and sustained practice culminate in mokṣa.

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

While naming Hari explicitly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: deity-worship can yield specific fruits, yet liberation is tied to the Supreme—presented in the text through harmonized Shaiva–Vaishnava theology where ultimate reality is one, approached through sanctioned forms.